OpenText spreads happiness and relief during current pandemic

Giving has the power to spread happiness especially in light of the current pandemic. On January 13, OpenText, a software engineering company helped spread some relief with a donation of R76 000 to a Germiston- based foodbank called Food Forward SA (FFSA).

“One meal with FFSA can cost about 85 cents,” said FFSA Gauteng branch manager Pierre Beswick.  JP Hansen, marketing manager at OpenText in Africa, said their software engineering company decided not to host any year-end functions for their staff or customers, which was worth $1-million.

“Instead, we donated the money to various organisations across the world, including Food Forward SA. Our company employs 15 000 people and has offices across the world.

“Each country was asked to identify a food bank in each of the countries in which it operates and we chose FoodForward SA.

“We chose FFSA because they are established and they run an impressive operation according to the impact they make, we believe many more lives will be touched by them.”

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Pierre added their branch not only distributes food parcels in Gauteng but they also deliver food to other provinces like Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

“We are very strict, our parcels are vetted rigorously and we make sure the food gets to where it needs to go,” said the FFSA manager.

Lebogang Mashilo, a coordinator at FFSA, said she does random visits to ensure the right people get the parcels. “If we don’t get the required forms or when beneficiaries do not get the food parcels, we block the organisations from our list. We also put stickers on the food to make sure they cannot be resold,” said Mashilo. Pierre thanked OpenText and said the donation will equate to over 90 000 meals.

Contact the newsroom by emailing:

Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,  or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za , and Lebogang Sekgwama lebogangs@caxton.co.za.