Potch, Let’s Help Pack Meals and Spread Hope this Mandela Day
- Karen Scheepers
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
It starts with a meal and this July, Potchefstroom has a powerful opportunity to pack hope and make a tangible difference. In celebration of Mandela Day, Attacq and Rise Against Hunger Africa (RAH) are transforming malls across South Africa into meal-packing powerhouses, and MooiRivier Mall is again joining the movement. With your help, we can go beyond last year’s success and help ensure that every child has the nourishment they need to thrive.
🧡 Register to Volunteer Here: Sign Up Form
A Global Mission, A Local Heartbeat
Rise Against Hunger, founded in 1998 and active in South Africa since 2009, is a global hunger relief organisation committed to ending hunger in our lifetime. In South Africa, the movement has become deeply intertwined with the spirit of Mandela Day, when individuals and businesses dedicate 67 minutes to serve their communities.
Each meal-packed represents more than just sustenance, it is a symbol of hope, dignity, and opportunity. RAH’s efforts are rooted in supporting Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, ensuring that even the youngest South Africans can learn and grow without hunger holding them back.
Mandela Day Meal Packing in Potchefstroom
Potchefstroom’s contribution has been inspiring. MooiRivier Mall, part of Attacq’s network, has become a beacon of community action every July. In 2024, the event brought together 107 volunteers, who packed 26,136 nutritious meals in just a few hours. These meals, consisting of rice, soy, vegetables, and 23 essential vitamins, were distributed to feeding schemes and schools in vulnerable communities.
The buzz in the mall’s atrium was electric. Teams of students, parents, employees, and retirees worked side by side, pouring ingredients, sealing packets, and stacking boxes, all while embracing the joyful, impactful energy of giving back. Many volunteers wore yellow in solidarity with Mandela Day’s vibrance, making the event both a festive and deeply meaningful experience.
Corporate Collaboration: The Engine Behind the Movement
Behind the scenes, Attacq’s commitment to eradicating hunger has helped scale this initiative nationwide. Through the Attacq Foundation, in collaboration with partners like Sage, Pfizer, Balwin Foundation, and local contributors like Adams & Adams law firm, the program has achieved remarkable growth:
2021: 96,000 meals packed (target exceeded)
2022: 154,000 meals packed
2023: 273,522 meals packed, reaching 1,180 children
2024: 425,736 meals packed in one day, thanks to 1,101 volunteers across five malls
Each corporate team sponsors a packing station and commits a 67-minute volunteer shift, proving that partnerships multiply impact. Attacq’s Human Capital Manager, Danny Vermeulen, summed it up perfectly: “We need to combine our resources and efforts to achieve greater results.”
Why It Matters
South Africa’s hunger crisis is a daily reality for millions, especially children. Malnutrition stunts not just physical development but also education and long-term opportunity. RAH’s mission, aligned with the United Nations’ Zero Hunger Goal, seeks to change this, one meal at a time.
In towns like Potchefstroom, the results are measurable. Meal-packing efforts have directly supported local feeding schemes and ECDs, creating ripple effects of health, education, and hope. It’s not charity, it’s solidarity, rooted in action.
Be Part of the Change
This year, the goal is even more ambitious than before, and Potchefstroom is once again invited to step up. Whether you’re a student, a business team, a retiree, or just someone with a heart for helping, your hands are needed.
🧢 Wear something yellow, bring your team spirit, and come ready to be part of something bigger than yourself.
💪 Sign up to volunteer: Click here to register
🌍 Share the word: Encourage your workplace, church group, or school to get involved.
A Meal Can Start a Movement
Potchefstroom’s Mandela Day contributions to Rise Against Hunger show what’s possible when a community rises together. Each packed meal is a seed of hope. Each volunteer, a part of the solution. And each 67-minute shift? A building block in the fight against hunger.
As the campaign reminds us: It starts with a meal, but it ends with a future where every child can thrive. Potch, let’s help pack those meals and build that future, one scoop, seal, and smile at a time.
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