Tastic Rice and Rise Against Hunger pack 60 000 meals for South Africans in need
Each meal that was packed contained Tastic Rice, soy protein and dried vegetables.
Media, volunteers and the public heeded the call by Tastic Rice and Rise Against Hunger to pack 60 000 meals for South Africans in need on April 15 at Gold Reef Park, Booysens Reserve.
The target for 2021 is six million meals, and global organisation Rise Against Hunger has the support of Tastic Rice to ensure thousands of families have a meal.
Tastic Rice continues its journey with Rise Against Hunger, an NPO that is dedicated to ending world hunger by 2030 in a sustainable manner.
This year the purposeful partnership joined hands with friends of Tastic Rice, volunteers and members of the public to pack 60 000 meals in just two days, as they celebrate 60 years of Tastic Rice being in the homes of many South Africans. This formed part of Tastic’s ongoing commitment to providing six million meals to families in need through its partnership with Rise Against Hunger Africa since 2019.
The importance of this auspicious day was that a real contribution was being made in addressing hunger. The meals packed were in support of raising awareness about food scarcity and providing nutritious meals for those living in poor and disadvantaged communities.
Dire need for food
Food insecurity has been a major challenge globally but when South Africa commenced the hard lockdown in March 2020, the situation got even direr.
The government has implemented measures to ease the situation such as increases in social grants, the government relief fund and so forth, but they are insufficient to address food poverty associated with a loss of income during the lockdown.
The organisation has served more than half a billion meals in 78 countries, impacting an estimated 1.8 million people. Roughly 415 000 volunteers have come through their facilities to package meals and play a role in ending hunger.
When asked about the importance of this collaboration, Thembi Sehloho, marketing director of pasta and rice, said, “This year we are intentional about our partnerships. We are fundamentally utilising this milestone of 60 years of Tastic Rice to align ourselves with people and organisations on the quest of doing great and meaningful work.”
Each meal that was packed contained Tastic Rice, soy protein and dried vegetables. The plant-based meals contain 20 essential vitamins and nutrients that are key for a child’s development.
Rise Against Hunger’s primary demographic are children, especially in early childhood development centres. The nutritious meals the organisation provide to combat malnutrition can assist in preventing irreversible physical and cognitive impairments in these young future leaders.
“The Rise Against Hunger initiative supports well over 66 000 beneficiaries who receive five nutritional meals per week. Nutrition is the basis of a healthy mind, and we cannot provide solid nutrients without a significant rice partner,” said Brian Nell, national operations manager at Rise Against Hunger.
“We have come to rely on Tastic Rice as the staple ingredient that is essential in our meal packs.”
