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Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed a tremendous response to its #FeedingSATogether campaign launched over a month ago, describing it as extremely positive.
The company also expressed gratitude for the generous contributions from numerous South African companies and individuals which enabled more than 2,100 children and elderly have access to nutritious meals for up to a month.
The project, which was arranged in partnership with Jaguar Ambassador and well-known celebrity, Minnie Dlamini, had called for donations of any amount in order to secure food parcels to be distributed to those in need by the South African Red Cross Society.
Responding to the call, a number of companies, celebrities and brand ambassadors joined forces in the true spirit of Ubuntu to help support South Africans in need. To date, a total in excess of R470,000 has been raised, and all proceeds have gone directly to the initiative.
One #FeedingSATogether food pack can feed a single person for up to three weeks and a child for up to one month. Each parcel includes rations of vegetable soup, soya mince, instant porridge and isotonic drinks, along with a hand sanitiser from Minnie Dlamini’s own line of MD-brand beauty products.
The Red Cross will continue to identify the respective orphanages and old age homes where deliveries can be performed safely and are most needed during the COVID-19 crisis.
The first major contribution came from Jaguar Land Rover itself with the delivery of 90 parcels the Khyalethu School near Knysna, and a further 200 were distributed in Soweto, Daveyton, Germiston, Brakpan and Benoni. Jaguar Land Rover also made 11 vehicles from its marketing fleet available to the Red Cross to use for its COVID-19 efforts across the country, in addition to the deliveries of food packs.
Diageo South Africa, a leading spirits manufacturer, was one of the first companies to respond with a donation of R125,000 and the free supply of 10,000 litres of alcohol for the manufacture of the MD hand sanitisers.
Puma Energy South Africa was next to join the fight against hunger with a major contribution, after Jaguar Ambassador TT Mbha, used his relationship with the fuels supplier to introduce the company to the initiative.
TT Mbha, Jaguar Ambassador, said: “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu simply means I am because of others, and that has always been an integral part of my township upbringing. The #FeedingSATogether initiative to combat hunger naturally resonates with who I am and that’s why I decided to tap into my global networks such as Puma Energy to unlock much needed donations for orphans and the elderly.”
Eghosa Oriaikhi Mabhena, CEO, Puma Energy Africa, said: “Our purpose as Puma Energy is to energise communities. Aside from our regular business of supplying high-quality fuels, this also means caring for and giving back to people, and at this time the vulnerable members of our society in particular. I’m excited to see our South African business getting involved with the #FeedingSATogether initiative, and Puma Energy is proud to donate R150,000 to the cause as well as a direct donation of R20,000 in fuel to the South African Red Cross Society.”
Next was popular South African musician Black Coffee who held a live stream performance on 25 April to promote the #FeedingSATogether campaign. More than 9,000 fans tuned in for the viewing with a result of over R44,000 in donations secured.
Prompted by Minnie Dlamini’s heartfelt call on the public via social media channels, other Jaguar Land Rover Ambassadors including Kingsley Holgate, Bryan Habana, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Eben Etzebeth, Absa Cape Epic Team Land Rover riders, and numerous Springbok rugby players have helped to spread the message and make donations of their own.
Minnie Dlamini, Jaguar Ambassador, said: “The reaction from the public to our #FeedingSATogether campaign has been overwhelming. The compassion we’ve seen from South Africans during this time has touched our hearts and the lives of thousands around Mzansi. We’re also encouraged to see a number of donations from abroad, meaning our message has resonated with the world.”
The Backabuddy platform which was set up by Jaguar Land Rover in cooperation with the Minnie Dlamini Foundation is still up and running, and anyone interested in donating to the #FeedingSATogether initiative can do so at www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/feedingsatogether.
