A multi-sector collaboration led by SA Harvest and The Sharks brought warmth and nutrition to 300 elderly people in the food-vulnerable communities of KwaMashu in commemoration of Mandela Day. The joint effort included Chefs with Compassion, Talksure, the OneFarm Share programme from HelloChoice, Clemengold, Unitrans, SMG, SSG and Hollywoodbets who together delivered soup, blankets, and citrus fruit to the beneficiaries.

In a combined initiative of generosity and compassion, The Sharks, through their Hands of Hope initiative, donated blankets to provide warmth to the elderly. These items were donated in line with their ongoing partnership with SA Harvest, a leading national food rescue and hunger relief NPO.

Dr Eduard Coetzee, CEO of The Sharks, noted, "Our Hands of Hope initiative is a reflection of our deep-rooted philosophy of giving back. We are committed to being more than just a rugby team; we are part of the community and we believe in making a positive difference. Partnering with SA Harvest allows us to expand our reach and multiply our impact. We believe in creating a circle of care that leaves no one behind.”

The soup was made from vegetables, donated by the OneFarm Share programme, which were cooked into a hearty and nutritious soup by the team of chefs from Talksure as part of Chefs with Compassion's #67000litres campaign. Fresh citrus fruits were donated by Clemengold from their packhouse in Mpumalanga and transported to Durban by Unitrans. The Sharks were transported by SMG and additional blankets were donated by The Sharks loyal partner Hollywoodbets.

The beneficiary organisations who received the donations were Sinikuthando and Umthombo Wempilo, two NPOs that tirelessly feed the hungry, with an emphasis on the elderly, in KwaMashu. SA Harvest, as the connector of the various contributors, played a critical role in facilitating the logistics.

Alan Browde, CEO and founder of SA Harvest, remarked on the significant impact of collaborative efforts. "At SA Harvest, we have an unshakeable belief in the power of collaboration to bring about meaningful change. This initiative is an exceptional example of what can be achieved when different sectors unite for a common cause. Today we proved that, together, we can alleviate hunger and bring about change in our communities.”

These collective efforts underscore the potential of corporate partnerships and community initiatives to address food insecurity in South Africa. SA Harvest is a national food rescue and hunger relief organisation that has delivered 44,3 million meals and rescued 13,4 million tonnes of food since its inception in October 2019. The organisation is currently running a Million Meals Month campaign under the banner of its advocacy arm, #UnionAgainstHunger. The campaign aims to deliver a million meals in July and to honour Nelson Mandela's 67-year-long fight for human rights and social justice by raising awareness about the ongoing injustice of hunger in South Africa and mobilising action to end it.