A plant-based food giant has been donating vegan meals to those in need – and will hit 54,000 by Mandela Day – an annual initiative that takes place on Nelson Mandela’s birthday July 18 in South Africa.
The Fry Family Food Co., which is based in the country, committed to feeding as many people in need as possible at the start of the coronavirus lockdown, saying ‘it was clear what the impact would be on vulnerable South Africans’.
Food made by the company has been donated via various feeding schemes and charity organizations across the country.
Mandela Day
Mandela Day usually sees individuals and companies coming together to do 67 minutes of active citizenship, with each minute equating to every year Mandela served South Africa.
But, as Fry’s points out, ‘with the world navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic, Mandela Day is likely to be quite different’. With this in mind, the company has pledged to keep donating meals, and feed as many people as possible.
‘We needed to do more’
In a statement sent to Plant Based News, Tammy Fry, director at the Fry Family Food Co., said: “We have always had strong relationships with multiple charity organizations in South Africa.
“But when lockdown happened it became clear that the need was going to be that much greater and that we needed to do more.
“We initially wanted to set a target of providing 67 000 meals in time for Mandela Day, but we know that people will be going hungry far beyond the 18 July, so we are committed to continuing with the donations and will strive to feed as many as we can during this difficult time.”