Every winter, millions of South Africans go to bed hungry. For Meals on Wheels, this harsh reality is an everyday experience — whether it’s a parent sacrificing their meal so their child can eat, or an elderly neighbour quietly asking if there’s “just a little something” to spare.
This Mandela Day, you can make a meaningful difference with a simple act of kindness. From 14 to 18 July, South Africans are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items to Meals on Wheels through the Checkers Sixty60 platform, available on the web or via the app.
In an added gesture of generosity, Checkers will match every donation and refund your delivery fee.
Since the initiative’s launch four years ago, it has collected food to the value of almost R2.7 million — the equivalent of over 207,000 cans of baked beans or more than 150,000 packets of rice.
“Previous contributions from our Mandela Day partnership with Checkers Sixty60 have kept some Meals on Wheels branches running for up to three months — and in some areas, the support has sustained operations for as long as a year,” said Gershon Naidoo, Programmes Director for Meals on Wheels South Africa.
“As food insecurity continues to rise, so does our goal for this year. With your support, we hope to reach even more people,” Naidoo added.
Donating is simple: open the Sixty60 platform (web or app), type in one of the three delivery locations — Meals on Wheels Plumstead, Meals on Wheels Gillitts, or Meals on Wheels Yeoville — and place your order. The app’s dedicated ‘Deliver Kindness’ section highlights the most-needed grocery items to help ensure your donation has maximum impact.
“Uplifting the communities we serve is central to our purpose, and tackling food insecurity remains a key focus of our sustainability efforts. Through our partnership with Meals on Wheels, and thanks to the incredible generosity of our Sixty60 customers, we’re seeing just how powerful collective action can be,” said Sanjeev Raghubir, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Shoprite Group.
Meals on Wheels operates 173 kitchens across all nine provinces, providing more than 200,000 meals daily to South Africans who need them most.
This Mandela Day, join the movement to spread kindness and ensure no one goes to bed hungry.
