SA Harvest launches virtual food pantry for GivingTuesday

Norman Cloete|Published 2 months ago

Nutritious ingredients rescued by SA Harvest are converted into nourishing meals by beneficiary organisations.

SA Harvest launched its Virtual Food Pantry, a digital initiative designed to provide meals, restore dignity, and empower communities. The campaign, called Giving Tuesday, kicked off on December 3 and invites everyone to play a role in creating a hunger-free South Africa.

The organisation aims to deliver 300 000 nutritious meals to families in need by raising R270 000 this GivingTuesday. Through the Virtual Food Pantry, anyone can help to fill SA Harvest’s pantry by making a donation of any size. Every contribution, no matter the size, fuels SA Harvest’s ongoing mission to eradicate hunger through sustainable solutions such as food rescue.

Donation of milk to a school in Missionvale, Eastern Cape. Pictures: Supplied.

CEO and founder of SA Harvest, Alan Browde said the Virtual Food Pantry is more than a fundraiser, it’s a call to action. Donors can choose from a variety of giving levels, with each donation contributing directly to providing healthy meals and empowering local communities.

From a one-time donation of R20, which feeds a family of four for two days; to a donation of R1 000, which translates to three months of nutritious meals; to a recurring monthly donation making an ongoing impact, supporters can make a tangible difference.

Nutritious vegetables are a staple of SA Harvest's rescued donations.

"Our Virtual Food Pantry is a creative way to engage donors and demonstrate how their contributions make a real impact. We’re using this GivingTuesday to bring South Africans together, uniting around a common goal: to fight hunger and uplift those in need,” he said.

GivingTuesday is a global movement that encourages people and organisations to come together and give back to their communities. This year, SA Harvest is leveraging the momentum of GivingTuesday to highlight the urgent issue of hunger in South Africa and rally support for long-term, sustainable solutions.

SA Harvest collecting excess spinach in Cape Town.

SA Harvest’s approach goes beyond food delivery - it focuses on restoring dignity, empowering communities, and building resilience. Each donation through the Virtual Food Pantry helps fund SA Harvest’s critical work, rescuing food, reducing waste, and advocating for a more equitable food system.

There are several ways to support SA Harvest’s GivingTuesday campaign:

Donate: Visit the Virtual Food Pantry and make a donation that will provide meals to those in need. Donors can choose a one-time gift on the BackaBuddy site or set up a recurring donation to ensure continuous support through SA Harvest’s website.

Share the message: Help SA Harvest spread the word. Share the Virtual Food Pantry campaign with your network on social media, via email, or through WhatsApp.

Become a recurring donor: Extend the spirit of GivingTuesday by becoming a recurring donor. Monthly gifts help SA Harvest maintain a consistent, sustainable impact.

Varied donations of vegetables from the OneFarm Share programme and other SA Harvest donours.

Throughout the campaign, SA Harvest will share stories from the communities they serve, showing the real impact of every contribution. Supporters can follow the campaign’s progress through regular updates on social media, track the total funds raised, and see the difference they’re making.

"Every meal you help provide is a step toward a brighter future for our communities. Together, we can make a tangible difference and ensure that no one in South Africa goes hungry,” Browde concluded.

To learn more about the Virtual Food Pantry and to make a donation, visit www.saharvest.org or follow SA Harvest on www.saharvest.org/givingtuesday.