One of the biggest retailers in South Africa has partnered with a foundation to donate R200 000 towards food hampers for 40 schools across the country.
Pick n Pay and Feed the Nation Foundation are ready to assist pupils, and the retail giant has also enabled its customers to help and donate essential food and stationery items at participating branches during its back-to-school food drive.
Pick n Pay said it had designated 20 of its stores that have selected two schools in their vicinity to receive the food hampers.
Transformation director at Pick n Pay Suzanne Ackerman-Berman said the reality was that thousands of children go to school hungry every day.
“The number of children needing support has grown dramatically during lockdown as parents or guardians have lost their jobs.
“Together with these schools, we have identified children most in need and aim to support them with basic food and stationery essentials to start the year,” she said.
The collection trolleys are available in participating stores until 28 February.
Thereafter, the hampers will be packed and distributed to schools.
In the Western Cape, the participating stores are Kenilworth, Wynberg, Constantia and Ottery Hyper.
The Back-to-School Food Drive beneficiary schools belong to the Pick n Pay School Club, a public-private educational platform that works with a network of schools to reach over two million learners and their families each year.
Customers can donate towards the Feed The Nation Foundation at any time at any Pick n Pay till point.
African News Agency (ANA)