With the implementation of the national lockdown to flatten the curve of Covid-19 infections, many in South Africa have been left destitute without the means to earn an income and provide for their families.

Facebook group, #ImStaying, asked their more than one million followers what they needed most during this time, and approximately 20 000 said they needed help with food and other necessities.

“We are facing incredibly testing times as a country. I put out a call to our members recently, asking who was in need of food and to my total dismay, we had thousands responding, many of whom were seeking aid for themselves and their family members of up to 10 people, which was both sobering and heartbreaking to witness,” said the 39-year-old group founder, Jarette Petzer.

Honouring social distancing guidelines, #ImStaying launched a campaign to get donations through the crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy, in an attempt to raise money that could be converted into digital food vouchers to help as many South Africans as possible.

The campaign went live on 21 April and has thus far raised R296 057,46 with contributions from 600 donors both locally and abroad.

“As a community, we have to stick together and try to share the burden – those of us who can. There is only one way through this and that’s together. With our BackaBuddy campaign, we will do our best to help as many people as possible on a first-come, first-serve basis. We hope our members and the public at large will join us in raising funds as we strive to overcome this global pandemic,” Jarette said.

Support #ImStaying in feeding vulnerable families in South Africa, by making a donation to their BackaBuddy page.