Feed the future: Eskort launches new national feeding scheme with 22,000 hot dogs for children
In celebration of the upcoming Youth Day, Eskort has launched its new “Mapha R5: Feed the Future” feeding scheme for impoverished children by donating nearly 22,000 hot dogs to schools and NPOs around the country.
Targeted areas include: Nelspruit; Estcourt; Boksburg; Crown Gardens; Silverton; Honeydew; Heidelberg; Roodepoort; Gezina; Secunda; Centurion; Kimberley; Hartbeespoort; Protea Glen; Queenstown; Xavier and Irene.
13 June 2022: In response to South Africa’s growing hunger crisis, Eskort has launched a new ongoing national feeding scheme for vulnerable children and youth, kicking-off with the donation of hot dog meals for nearly 22,000 children at schools and charities across the country.
Demonstrating the depths of the crisis, the University of Cape Town’s Children Count latest report shows that one in every ten households have reported child hunger. Even more alarmingly, the 2020 South African Child Gauge estimates that more than one in four or 27% of children are stunted as a result of malnutrition.
Eskort has therefore stepped forward to drive support for local communities by introducing the ongoing “Mapha R5: Feed the Future” initiative at its 15 retail stores nationally. This Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme will encourage customers to join in making a positive difference by donating R5 towards feeding children.
To further support this initiative, each of Eskort’s 15 retail stores, factories and Head Office have reached out to schools and charitable organisations within their respective regions, where staff will be distributing hot dogs to nearly 22,000 destitute children throughout the coming week in celebration of Youth Day.
Marcelle Pienaar, Group Marketing Manager of Eskort, notes that its new feeding scheme reflects Eskort’s commitment to supporting those in need, especially in difficult times for households and consumers.
“Food is a basic survival need, but with rising costs of living and widespread unemployment, many families and children do not know where their next meal may be coming from,” she says.
“In honour of Youth Day, we hope to make a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of our country’s youth as tomorrow’s leaders. This initiative will therefore continue to give back on a monthly basis to ensure that impoverished youth and children have ongoing access to food.”
Pienaar explains that name of the campaign was inspired by the word “mapha”, which is used in African cultures to ask others to share what they are having, and is particularly used by children to share their lunchbox food with one another.
“With Mapha R5, we’re calling on all South Africans to join us in helping children in need, beginning with something as simple as just five-rand donations at your closest Eskort stores.
“Individually this amount may seem small, but together our collective contributions and involvement can make a world of difference to the lives of underprivileged youth and children.”
