The school holiday food parcel project is aimed at providing learners and their families with nutrition sustenance during the long June and December school holidays. Over 72,000 food parcels have been distributed throughout South Africa since inception in December 2012.
In response to the needs of our society, the CSI team partnered with their Western Cape units namely; Jam unit in Paarl, Albany unit in Bellville and HPCB Baby unit in Ndabeni. The employees initiated their participation process by nominating 13 schools from vulnerable communities close to their facilities, and the other 6 schools are part of the TBF breakfast programme.
Filled with excitement and a drive to give back to their communities, the Western Cape employees went to great lengths to create memorable moments through the distribution of the food parcels, preparing snack packs, arranging sports activities and counselling sessions on drug and alcohol abuse in collaboration with NICRO.
"It is imperative to plough back to communities that are our patriots. Albany Bellville has adopted two schools in Cape Town to help bring change to those kids, make them realise other possibilities and change their mindset. There's too much gangsterism in the schools, kids bring guns, knives and drugs. We understand terms of the environment and its social ills because some of us are from the same background, and we made it. We seek to make a difference through talks with learners, sports programmes and many other activities/programmes. As Tigers we understand that it is important to build real change and advancement for those in need," said Jacob Patience, Bellville Albany Unit Manager.
In all schools, learners, teachers and parents were excited to be getting food parcels. To some families these food parcels are the sustenance they need. "My parents are unemployed and I'm happy that we will have food at home, thank you Tiger Brands," said a learner from one of the schools.
"The purpose of our food parcel project is to supply the learners and their families with basic foodstuffs for the school holidays that will ensure the learners do not return to school malnourished," said Jabu Ntsele, Group Corporate Social Investment Manager.
