As part of its ongoing commitment to alleviating hunger, Engen has pledged another R2 million in fuel support to FoodForward SA, bringing its total contribution to R10 million since 2020.
This critical support keeps FoodForward SA trucks on the road, enabling them to traverse vast distances and deliver nutritious monthly food provisions to vulnerable communities across South Africa.
In celebration of World Food Day on 16 October, Engen’s Employee Volunteerism Programme saw teams of Engenites, together with colleagues from Vivo Energy, volunteering at FoodForward SA warehouses in KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and Gauteng. The teams helped sort, prepare, and pack food for distribution to thousands of beneficiary organisations nationwide.
Andy du Plessis, Managing Director of FoodForward SA, commended Engen and Vivo volunteers for their steadfast commitment:
“We thank Engen and Vivo for their ongoing generosity and for caring enough to make a real difference. Their annual fuel support helps FoodForward SA alleviate hunger across the country and ensures that many more impoverished households receive food provisions.”
Olwethu Mdabula, Engen CSI Manager, emphasised the importance of making a deliberate and sustainable impact:
“As a brand that aims to improve the lives of the communities in which we operate, Engen is humbled to partner with FoodForward SA and play our part on World Food Day. But we also recognise that lasting impact requires more than food hampers – it requires a clear, sustainable plan that includes skills transfer and a focus on long-term food security. This is why we are deliberate about the partners we choose and the impact we seek to make.”
World Food Day raises awareness about the urgent need for sustainable food systems and efforts to end hunger worldwide.
Founded in 2009, FoodForward SA connects a world of excess to a world of need by recovering quality surplus food from the consumer goods supply chain and redistributing it to community organisations that support vulnerable groups.
“As a caring and inclusive company with heart, our support for FoodForward SA aligns with Engen’s commitment to the United Nations SDGs, which strive for a better and more sustainable future for all,” added Mdabula.