More than 80 wheelchairs have already been “bought” during the first six months of this year thanks to the hugely successful “Breadtags for Wheelchairs” project.

The project is administered by the Polystyrene Packaging Council (PSPC) and supported by coordinator Mary Honeybun and the Sweetheart Foundation.

According to Adri Spangenberg, director of the PSPC, this project that collects breadtags made from high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) has touched the lives of thousands of people during the past nine years.

“We are amazed at the growth of this project as volunteers from all ages and walks of life become involved. We currently have ten buyers of breadtags and more than 200 collection points around the country,” Spangenberg says.

Continued investment and involvement from corporate sponsors such as SASKO Pioneer Foods, Dischem and CE Mobility help to grow the project.

“SASKO Pioneer Foods have pledged its support to the project for a second year running, and helps with transporting the breadtags from outlying areas. The Pioneer Food PR Team will also help expand social media campaigns. Dischem Pharmacies and CE Mobility are providing discounted rates on wheelchairs to the project”.

One of the most recent recipients of a wheelchair is Xoliswa Yabo, a young woman of the Daliwe Township in the Eastern Cape who was born with a speech impediment and without the use of her legs. Cathcart High School heard about her plight and decided to collect breadtags in order to buy a brand new wheelchair for Xoliswa. 

“Cathcart High is a shining example of how a community can work together to change somebody’s life. The school managed to collect an impressive 271kg of breadtags that was sent to a recycling plant in Cape Town. This was massive effort considering that that 271kg of breadtags translates to a staggering 826 550 000 tags/loaves of bread!” Spangenberg says.

Yabo also received toiletries and a blanket made from squares knitted by members of the M.A.D. (Make-A-Difference) Club at the school.