The Shoprite Group has joined communities across South Africa in their intensified efforts to fight hunger by donating millions of Rands worth of food, supplying thousands of meals and taking hands with its customers to donate to the Solidarity Fund.

Since the start of the national lockdown the Group has donated surplus food to the value of R6 million to 87 community-based organisations. In addition to this the Shoprite Mobile Soup Kitchens have remained active, and have since 27 March 2020 dropped off more than 119 000 nutritious meals in support of 195 organisations.

The retailer has also partnered with its customers to contribute R1.55 million to the Solidarity Fund. It made an initial donation of R1 million in response to the call for help from President Cyril Ramaphosa and made its Act for Change Fund available for customers to conveniently contribute a further R550 000 in its supermarkets across the country.

Customers who want to assist fellow citizens in need directly in time when physical contact is severely restricted due to the lockdown can buy virtual vouchers, which are a quick and efficient alternative to food hampers. These vouchers are sent via SMS to a recipient’s mobile phone within an hour of being purchased on the Computicket website, and are redeemable at all Shoprite, Checkers or Usave stores.

Another way that South Africans can help those citizens without an income and bank account is to send them money via the Money Market counters in the above-mentioned stores.

Customers can support destitute communities by donating non-perishable food and hygiene products at participating supermarkets where trolley donations are accepted. Items collected in this way are distributed to care facilities and other organisations looking after vulnerable groups in informal settlements.