Give to drought aid at tills
THE Shoprite group has heeded the call of South Africans who want to give financial assistance to those communities left without water as the country remains in the grip of the worst drought in decades, by introducing a tillpoint donation facility.
With immediate effect, the public will be able to assist drought relief efforts while shopping at any Shoprite or Checkers supermarket by adding donations in increments of R5 to their purchases.
The group has for months been reaching out to communities’ worst hit through its Project Thirst initiative in KwaZulu-Natal as well as partnerships with a number of other organisations in other areas left without water.
It has, in recent weeks, donated more than 300 000 litres of water and delivered thousands more to communities where there are shortages.
However, the group said the cost of collecting water and transporting it across vast distances was prohibitive.
“It is, economically, considerably more viable to purchase large volumes of fresh water directly from supplier depots as close to the affected communities as possible.”
With Shoprite’s #ActForChange Disaster Relief Fund, the public can help extend relief substantially, as this will ensure money is spent on buying water, rather than on its transport.
The fund will also help other disaster management initiatives at a national and community level, by providing relief in partnership with organisations like the SA Red Cross Society, Working on Fire, and Foodbank SA.
Shoppers in KZN can still buy 5 litre bottles of water at cost price. Project Thirst will match each bottle donated and it will be distributed twice a week. Project Thirst is supported by Independent Newspapers, Unilever, Thirsti, and Gift of the Givers.