Jar of Hope 2025: One Jar, One Meal, One Act of Kindness

In the lead-up to Mandela Day on 18 July, King Edward Private School and the Rotary Club of Potchefstroom Mooi have once again teamed up to run the Jar of Hope initiative, a community-driven food relief project that turns humble dry ingredients into meals for families in need.

A Simple Jar with a Big Purpose

The premise is straightforward: layer dry ingredients like rice, lentils, soup mix and soya mince into a glass jar, and you’ve got the makings of a nutritious, hearty meal that can feed up to eight people. These jars are then distributed to households facing food insecurity.

This isn't a new idea. In fact, it’s a continuation of a heartening success story, in 2024, the project delivered 810 jars, which worked out to 9,440 meals. That’s a lot of hungry bellies fed with the help of neighbours, friends and even a few unsuspecting cupboard raids.

What Goes in the Jar?

Each Jar of Hope contains:

• ¾ cup of rice

• ¼ cup of lentils

• ½ cup soup mix

• ½ cup soya mince

• 1 packet soup powder

• 1 stock cube

Cooking instructions are simple too: boil 1.5 litres of water, add the contents of the jar, cook for 30 minutes and serve. No gourmet kitchen required.

What’s Needed Now

The team is calling on the community to contribute dry ingredients or glass jars (like 200g coffee jars or 750ml mayonnaise bottles). The specific items needed include:

• Rice

• Lentils

• Soup mix

• Soya mince

• Soup powder

• Stock cubes

• Glass jars (clean and label-free)

Every handful counts, literally. Whether you can donate a bag of lentils or a cupboard of coffee jars, it all gets used.

Where and How to Donate

Contributions can be dropped off at:

King Edward Private School

234 Nelson Mandela Drive

Potchefstroom

Alternatively, collections can be arranged via cell on 082-347-5983 or email potchmooirotary@gmail.com. Keep an eye on the Rotary Club’s Facebook page: facebook.com/potchmooirotary

A Nod to Madiba

In the spirit of Nelson Mandela Day, a time for selfless acts of service, this campaign embodies his sentiment:

“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.” – Nelson Mandela

The goal isn’t just food. It’s hope, dignity, and a reminder that a small act can have a far-reaching impact. So if you’ve got an extra jar and a few scoops to spare, you know what to do.