Focus on the Community: Donating food to those most in need

October 16, 2020 IN THE CATEGORY: Community, Health, Responsible retailing

Today marks World Food Day, a day dedicated to raising global awareness for all to have access to food, combat undernourishment, and stress the importance of eating a healthy balanced diet. With the widespread effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, these topics have become even more relevant as those vulnerable in society are facing bigger health and economic challenges. Throughout the year, SPAR Partners across the globe have focused their efforts on helping those most in need during these challenging times through providing food donations. In this article, we highlight some of the support given.

SPAR Spain Gran Canaria

SPAR Gran Canaria helped donate more than 24,800 kilogrammes of food to the Las Palmas Food Bank following a collection drive held in SPAR stores across the island. With this initiative, SPAR Gran Canaria is helping more than 27,000 people who have run into financial trouble because of the coronavirus crisis. SPAR Gran Canaria’s intensified efforts to support the island’s population have resulted in 25% more donations than in previous years.

SPAR Ghana

SPAR Ghana donated both food and non-food items through the Food for All Ghana Food Bank to feed vulnerable families and community charities across the country. During the COVID-19 lockdown in Ghana, this partnership resulted in 61,000 kg of food to be distributed to over 105,000 beneficiaries across the country.

Executive Director of Food for All Africa, Chef Elijah Amoo Addo, commended SPAR in Ghana for joining them in their efforts to reduce hunger and food waste across the food supply chain in Ghana. “As operators of West Africa’s first and largest community food bank, partnering with businesses is key towards a Ghana without Hunger.”

SPAR UAE

SPAR UAE supported the Ma’an campaign by distributing food baskets worth AED 28 million (€6,585,000) to about 42,000 families since the outbreak of the pandemic. The food baskets contain rice, flour, sugar, cooking oil, water, and other basic food commodities sourced from SPAR UAE suppliers Agthia, Abu Dhabi Vegetable Oil, and Al Dahra, among others.

SPAR UAE confirmed that they will continue supporting the Ma’an campaign throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, in coordination with Abu Dhabi’s Authority for Social Contribution. This is another example of ensuring food security for customers, working in partnership with the government.

SPAR South Africa

Thanks to a partnership between SPAR South Africa and the NGO Operation Hunger, 3,000 less fortunate families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Gauteng province have received much-needed food parcels.  The Operation Hunger #Feedafamily campaign enables anyone to donate from R200 up on their website towards food parcels and sanitising packs for a vulnerable family.

The donation aims to inspire people to be and do more. It is during times like these that we need to work together and support each other. SPAR is a community-based business, and we trust that small gestures will make a difference in the lives of those affected.

SPAR UK

SPAR UK partner James Hall & Co. introduced a SPAR branded food donation bin, designed to attract customers’ attention and promote local food banks within SPAR stores across the north of England. The branded stands helped SPAR stores in the north of England to raise nearly £20,000 (€22,300) in food donations for food banks, with one store gathering 240 tins of peas and tinned tomatoes in just one day.

“The branded food bank collection points help SPAR retailers promote the fantastic work our company-owned stores and independent SPAR retailers have been doing in supporting local people”,  said Tomas Garliauskas, CSR Project Coordinator at James Hall & Co.

At SPAR, we are committed to helping those most vulnerable and aim to ensure all have access to affordable and healthy food. Together with our customers, we are able to benefit many people in need. We support the goals of #WorldFoodDay.

Source: SPAR International