As many went out of their way to honour Nelson Mandela’s legacy by lending their humanitarian hand to those in need, Chefs with Compassion, in partnership with Marriott Hotels, also took part, by hosting the largest annual cook-off in honour of Nelson Mandela Day.
The cook-off, which is in its fourth year, illustrates compassion and community in action, further underscoring food insecurity and the power of collective giving and community solidarity.
This year, it produced more than 1 250 litres of nutritious soup and fed more than 5 000 South Africans.
The event is part of #67000 Litres for Mandela Challenge, which encourages participants to use leftover and rescued food to cook nourishing soup for those in need.
This year, 15 Marriott International properties across brands, including The Westin, Marriott Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, and various Protea Hotels by Marriott, enthusiastically joined the initiative.
Each hotel rescued surplus food and prepared as much soup as possible within 67 minutes on Mandela Day, delivering it to non-profit organisations.
The Southern Africa Business Council’s chairperson, Johann Nortje, said that through their partnership, they were able to make a significant difference.
“Emerging from challenging times, it’s vital to support our communities, especially those struggling to secure even one meal a day.
“By joining forces with Chefs with Compassion on Mandela Day, we address food insecurity and promote sustainability. This initiative not only feeds the hungry but also highlights the collective power of unity and action. Serving our world is a core value and through this collaboration, we’re able to make a meaningful impact.”
Coovashan Pillay, the food and beverage manager at Protea Hotel Johannesburg Wanderers and a representative of Chefs with Compassion, said: “With 10.3 million tonnes of food wasted annually and 20 million people going to sleep hungry every night, the #67000 Litres for Mandela Challenge unites chefs, individuals, corporations and communities to address food insecurity and reduce food waste. We are thrilled to collaborate once again on this meaningful initiative.”
The cook-off, a collective effort by hotels and volunteers, showcased unity and compassion, inspiring community action and preserving the legacy of Mandela's vision for a more equitable society and promoting hope and a call to continue making a difference.
The Star