Thousands of corporate and community volunteers rolled up their sleeves in 3 cities to pack nutritious food for over 2,200 beneficiary organisations.
In the true spirit of Ubuntu, FoodForward SA (FFSA) hosted its annual Mandela Day Food Packing Events on Friday, 17 July, bringing together thousands of volunteers across three major cities to combat food insecurity and malnutrition
Taking place simultaneously in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town, over 5,200 volunteers dedicated their 67 minutes of service to sorting and packing over 300 tonnes of nutritious food. Their collective effort yielded 1,2mn meals, which will be distributed through FFSA’s nationwide network of more than 2,200 beneficiary organisations, including ECDs, community kitchens and shelters, supporting food assistance programmes that reach over 862 820 individuals daily.
“Mandela Day is a powerful annual reminder that small, intentional actions, when multiplied by thousands of hands, create monumental change,” says Andy Du Plessis, Managing Director of FoodForward SA. “Every single food item packed on the day represents nutritional security, dignity, and hope for a family facing the harsh reality of hunger during winter. We are incredibly grateful to our corporate partners, donors, and every volunteer who chose to spend their Mandela Day with us.”
The atmosphere across all three national venues was one of collaboration, with corporate volunteers and individuals working side-by-side, sorting more than 400 pallets of food.
Addressing the Food Security Paradox
Despite being classified as food secure at a national level, South Africa is currently grappling with a severe household food security crisis. According to Stats SA an estimated 18 million people go to bed hungry in South Africa, while more than 1 000 children died from malnutrition last year.
Meanwhile, more than one third of all food produced in the country – 10 million tonnes of mostly edible, surplus food – is lost or wasted each year. Through strategic food-security programmes, FFSA recovers and redistributes quality surplus food, strengthening resilience in both urban and rural communities.
“This collective effort shows us how effectively civil society and corporate South Africa can unite to address critical social and humanitarian needs,” concludes Du Plessis. “The food packed on Mandela Day offers essential relief to thousands of families navigating the difficult winter months, demonstrating the powerful impact of coming together to make a difference, one contribution at a time.”
