When a university student who had been living off nothing but potatoes asked for just R60 to buy another pocket, their plea was met with heartfelt generosity to ensure they could fill up their cupboards with proper, nourishing food.
Western Cape, South Africa (08 July 2026) – The kindness of our people truly has no bounds. At its best, it doesn’t just answer a plea; it exceeds it, meeting a person in need exactly where they are and leaving them better off than they were found.
Recently, a student who had been living off nothing but potatoes to get by reached out to the UWC Fairy Godmother, requesting just R60 to buy another pocket.
When the student support organisation shared the story on social media, kind donors responded with more than the student asked for, nevertheless expected.
Instead of just enough for another bag of potatoes, the student was supported with a deposit of R500, followed by another of R250, to buy proper, nourishing food.
Full of gratitude, the student headed to the store and later shared an update alongside a photo of their grocery haul. From flour, bread, and meat to sugar and cooking oil, they were finally able to stock up on the essential foods and supplies they had gone without for so long.
“I must say this grocery will go a long way,” the student shared with the UWC Fairy Godmother.
“I am very grateful, and may God bless you abundantly for what you are doing and bless your sponsors more. I now believe the phrase: ‘ask and you shall receive’. Thank you once again, and I hope to become a sponsor one day.”
This is more than a story about groceries. It is a profound reminder of what happens when we look at one another with true empathy. By seeing past a simple request and recognising the dignity of a fellow human being, a community turned a moment of survival into an experience of abundance.
This world can feel quite indifferent at times, but such acts of grace and giving still do exist and meet those in need so they don’t have to walk their journey alone.
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