Communities central to Shoprite’s strategy to give back

Dec 3, 2019

This Giving Tuesday (3 December 2019) the Shoprite Group hosted 16 different events across South Africa as it reflects on its extensive long-term support of community initiatives.

Giving Tuesday is a global movement aimed at encouraging charitable giving ahead of the festive season.

“Fighting hunger is a major focus for us as Africa’s largest food retailer and that’s why we support almost 100 community food gardens and more than 300 home gardens. If you put all these gardens together they would cover some 2 million square metres.”

- Lunga Schoeman, the Group’s CSI manager

Here is a snapshot of the Group's Giving Tuesday events in partnership with various communities across South Africa and is a testament to the value the retailer places on uplifting the communities it serves:

Avian Park, Western Cape

Residents of Avian Park attended Shoprite's Giving Tuesday event at the Avian Park Service Learning Centre on 3 December as the retailer reflected on its extensive long-term support of communities. They were served with a cup of fortified soup and bread from one of Shoprite's Mobile Soup Kitchens, which forms its first line of defense in the fight against hunger. Shoprite has invested in 34 food gardens in Avian Park as well as four preschools in the wider Worcester community.

Blessing Eco Preparatory School, Gauteng

Preschoolers from Blessing Eco Preparatory School in Brakpan on Giving Tuesday. The event was an opportunity for the retailer to reflect on its extensive support to the Brakpan community. Shoprite donated the two containers housing the school and its kitchen. It also provided training for the school's teachers and provides learners with a daily nutritious meal and access to fresh vegetables from the food garden Shoprite planted at the school.

Masakhane Centre, Northern Cape

Giving Tuesday started with song at the Masakhane Centre in Nonzwakazi. Marium Ramncwana founded this centre 15 years ago out of concern for the elderly people in her community. She wanted to provide them with a space where they could socialise and be productive - they cook, garden and sew at the centre. She also gives them a healthy daily meal. Their food garden was struggling, but Checkers stepped in to provide a water tank, pipes and a diesel pump as well as shade netting to protect the plants from the scorching sun.

Star Uplifting Centre, KwaZulu-Natal

Enthusiastic food garden volunteers from Star Uplifting Centre in Dimbaza celebrated their partnership with the Shoprite Group. Shoprite has for the past two years invested in the Star Uplifting food garden, which adds fresh vegetables to the meals served to 60 disabled children cared for at the centre. Earlier this year the centre participated in the supermarket chain's market day where Shoprite-supported gardens had the opportunity to sell their vegetables at selected stores across South Africa.