“Give A Rand, Give A Hand” is dedicated to solving the food crisis by feeding children in underprivileged communities surrounding Eskort stores.

Eskort “Feed The Future” focuses on providing immediate food security to children in underserved communities affected by South Africa’s hunger crisis, while also investing in their future. By customers donating R1 upon purchase at an Eskort store, a child is fed and their future is sowed. Eskort in turn supplements the donations with its own contribution.

Eskort Marketing Director Marcelle Pienaar says the company’s corporate social investment initiative, Feed the Future, aims to encourage long-term sustainability and investment in agriculture to help ensure food security for generations to come.

“It prioritises immediate food provision for children in underprivileged communities affected by the hunger crisis in South Africa, but it also looks to the future,” she said. “It advocates strategies to address the root cause of hunger, unemployment and environmental concerns, as well as building resilience in vulnerable communities and investing in the leaders of tomorrow.”

South Africa’s leading pork producer treated children from communities surrounding eight selected Eskort stores to a delicious lunch as part of Mandela Day in July. It was part of the company’s “Give a Rand, Give a Hand” programme, now called “Feed The Future”, which encourages customers to add a R1 donation when they shop at Eskort.

Customer donations have allowed Eskort stores in seven provinces to distribute tens of thousands of hotdogs, helping underprivileged children and those in need. For example, during February’s flooding in Komani, Eskort’s Eastern Cape store, in partnership with Gift of the Givers, provided 2,000 hotdogs to displaced residents.

Principal, Nthabiseng Sebola, said many of the school’s parents are unemployed and some children often arrive at school with no lunch. “School is not only about the curriculum, it is a place where they are also taken care of,” she said.

“We thank Eskort for choosing our school. If this could happen more often we would be so excited. It would make the children want to come to school. It is not only their tummies, but their hearts are also full.”

“It’s a real privilege to support the people who support us,” Pienaar encouraged. “It feels wonderful to be able to give back to the very communities that made “Give a Rand, Give a Hand” possible in the first place.

“This initiative proves that even a small donation can have a significant impact on society, and Eskort is looking forward to extending its reach as our chain of stores grow.

“Mandela Month 2024, which celebrated what would have been Madiba’s 106th birthday, was a great time to celebrate what’s already been achieved – and we look forward to the endless possibilities that lie ahead.”

Feed the Future’s work continues as staff from Eskort’s East Rand Value Mall store prepare to feed 400 children supported by the Tshisusu Foundation in Boksburg.