Trusted retailer fills buckets of hope for special customers

The prolonged effects of the coronavirus pandemic have strained communities and stretched individuals to almost breaking point.

Seeing daily reminders of the difficulties facing the supportive families throughout the suburbs around their store, OK Foods Delarey opened their hearts to a select group of shoppers. Managers and staff handed out a small mountain of essentials to community members, hoping to bring relief to customers most in need of some extra help to get through the last weeks of winter.

OK Foods Delarey, owned by Fernando Braz for the last five years and managed by Panos Christodoulou for two, pride themselves on having a strong bond with their community. “We realise the hardship that everyone is going through. The pandemic has exacerbated the problems and we want to show our customers that we appreciate them. We want to show that we are ready to help the community we serve,” said Panos.

In the weeks leading up to the handover, OK Foods staff handpicked close to 30 loyal customers who each received a bucket of groceries and household items worth over R1 000. Fernando brought along his three children, Natalia, José and Michael, to assist with the handover and share in the festivities, adding, “It’s about teaching young people to understand the importance of helping others too”.

A community is more than just a collection of individuals, but the personal connections and shared experiences of friends and neighbours. Each business, each trader and each customer bring something special, but at OK Foods Delarey, you are sure to encounter ‘owners you can count on’.