Woolworths and the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet community loyalty programme have made a R500 000 donation to the Gift of the Givers Foundation to support frontline medical workers through the provision of protective wear and equipment. As one of the country’s primary disaster response charities, Gift of the Givers is a recognised partner in the South African government’s Covid-19 response. The organisation has already set up numerous mobile Covid-19 testing sites in support of South Africa’s hospitals, and is raising urgent funds for medical equipment and protective gear.
To make a difference as our nation stands together to flatten the curve, we have teamed up with Gift of the Givers with whom we have had a long-standing partnership. Gift of the Givers has been at the forefront of disaster relief on our continent, caring for the most vulnerable. We welcome their speedy, decisive efforts and are committed to helping them support our medical workers during this unprecedented crisis. It is critical to keep our medical workers safe as it is their expertise and hard work that saves lives,” says Zinzi Mgolodela, Woolworths Director of Corporate Affairs.
In addition, to establishing tent testing sites and ordering much-needed ventilators, Gift of the Givers is aiming to raise funds to also purchase and supply protective masks, Hazmat suits, gowns, gloves and goggles that are vital to protect nurses and doctors at the frontline of the pandemic. Badr Kazi, Gift of the Givers Director, says, “As the crisis escalates, we, as a country, must do everything possible to protect our health workers who, every day, bravely and selflessly, put themselves in the firing line of this disease. This donation will hugely help our fund raising efforts as well as create awareness that South Africans can help to make a difference, even under lockdown.”
The Gift of the Givers Foundation is a beneficiary of the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet loyalty programme so Woolies customers, who will be buying food over the 21-day lockdown and beyond, can nominate them as one of their beneficiaries as a meaningful way of making a contribution to the country’s fight against Covid-19. Funds are raised via swiping the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card at participating retailers at no cost to the cardholders as the retailers make the contribution on their behalf.
Sainsbury’s praises customers, staff & partners for £4.1m donation
Sainsbury’s has revealed that its customers, along with Argos, Habitat and Nectar customers have collectively raised over £1.9 million for Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need over the past three weeks – all of which was matched pound for pound. The UK government also pledged to match every penny donated. As a result, a total of £4.1 million has been donated towards vital emergency support for vulnerable people in the UK through the retailers’ joint appeal, which ran from April 9 to May 1.
// Sainsbury’s has revealed a donation of £4.1m has been sent to vulnerable people across the UK
// It’s also donating over 750,000 items from its Tu clothing range for local communities & charities
The Big 4 grocer also said it was donating over 750,000 brand new items from its Tu clothing range towards local communities and charities via Comic Relief and Sainsbury’s existing charity network. Sainsbury’s said the donations would provide “vital frontline support to people who need it most through this crisis”. This includes vulnerable children and young people, people who are homeless or living in poverty, women and families at risk of domestic abuse, and those struggling with mental health problems during the Covid-19 crisis.
“We’re proud to have matched donations raised in-store and online, bringing the total donated to Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need to over £4.1 million,” Sainsbury’s chief executive Mike Coupe said. “The money raised will go towards helping vulnerable people and make a truly important difference to their lives.”
The supermarket chain also signed the C-19 Business pledge, a government-backed initiative “to harness the power of business as a force for good during the pandemic,” with the initiative to support employees nationwide.
