— ‘Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity, and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom.’— Nelson Mandela
We all know that life during Covid lockdown is tough. We’re all weathering the same storm. But – and it’s important to remember this – we’re not all in the same boat… For an ever-growing number of people, the Covid crisis has hit extraordinarily hard. They’ve been left with no income, no food, no shelter, no medicines, not even running water. People are desperate; and their situation is heartbreaking.
South Africans are helping…
There’s been an amazing uprising of people who want to help. Thousands of South Africans, rich and poor, have shown their true colours by working to collect and deliver food, clothing, and blankets to people in need. And they’re doing it with compassion and humility. Because having to beg for food and money destroys one’s dignity…
How can you help take #ActionAgainstPoverty
Check your local community newspapers, or online, to find out how you can give back to struggling communities. Here are some examples:
Find out who in your community is delivering meals, sandwiches, and soup to less-fortunate communities, and how you can help. You don't need to break the bank. Even the smallest donation helps – 1 loaf of peanut butter sandwiches can feed six children. Your sandwich will help nourish a child to learn. After all, conquering malnutrition is vital to the future of our country. (And feeding people always warms your heart.)
Donate blankets to homes for the aged. They also welcome food and toiletry parcels.
Donate blankets and food to animal shelters. These places are now overflowing with animals that have been handed in during lockdown.
Help plant community gardens with vegetable and fruit seedlings.
Supply school libraries with books.
Mandela Tea takes #ActionAgainstPoverty
We at Mandela Tea ache for those people who simply have no food to feed themselves or their families. So when we stumbled across the ‘Jars of Hope’ project on social media, we were inspired to join the campaign in our own way. Follow the instructions below to fill jars with the ingredients for a nourishing and delicious meal for a family of four. We suggest handing out Jars of Hope to homeless people on roadsides and at traffic lights. We all need to help… a delicious cup of Mandela Tea will keep you warm as you work!
Making a Jar of Hope:
Into a large glass jar or resealable bag, pour:
half a cup of rice
half a cup of dried soup mix
half a cup of lentils
one stock cube, unwrapped
one packet of instant soup powder
Attach the cooking instructions to the jar.
In a deep pot, bring 2.5 liters of water to the boil. Add the contents of the jar, stirring well, and bring back to the boil. Lower the heat and cook, stirring, until the ingredients are tender and delicious. It makes a tummy-warming and very good stew.
Remember, positive global action begins with small steps by individuals. It is in our hands to make our world a better one for all.
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