Communities, businesses and charities are joining forces to fight child hunger and bring lasting hope to vulnerable families in the Eastern Cape.
Eastern Cape, South Africa (27 July 2026) – The first 1,000 days of a child’s life can shape their entire future. It’s a window where proper nutrition helps build healthy brains, stronger bodies and brighter opportunities. Without it, the effects can last a lifetime.
It’s a heartbreaking reality, but it’s also one that compassionate South Africans are determined to change.
This past Mandela Day, SPAR Eastern Cape once again rolled up its sleeves alongside FoodForward SA, helping pack and donate essential food supplies for vulnerable families across the province. More than a once-off act of kindness, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating sustainable food security for communities that need it most.
The Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town has described malnutrition as the “slow violence of malnutrition”, highlighting the devastating impact hunger has on young children. Research collected over more than two decades shows that one in four South African children experiences stunted growth due to poor nutrition, affecting both physical and cognitive development.
Yet while the statistics are sobering, organisations across the Eastern Cape are proving that collaboration can make a meaningful difference.
FoodForward SA’s Eastern Cape branch rescues quality surplus food from farmers, manufacturers and retailers before redistributing it to beneficiary organisations serving communities in Gqeberha, Qonce, East London, Fort Beaufort, Komani and surrounding areas.
“We want to make sure that food supply is sustainable,” said SPAR Eastern Cape Sponsorship Controller Honey Koba.
“We enjoy working with FoodForward because, like us, they are committed to making a tangible impact.”
The partnership has also expanded its reach through a mother-and-child nutrition programme that now supports clinics in KwaZakhele, Booysens Park and Rosedale in Nelson Mandela Bay. Every month, each clinic receives 50 grocery boxes filled with nutritious essentials for mothers and young children.
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Koba believes addressing hunger means understanding the bigger picture.
“We see how many children die at a young age because of malnutrition. We also know that their parents are often unemployed.”
She added that supporting mothers is just as important as feeding children.
“She needs to be healthy, both physically and mentally, so that the child can be nurtured properly.”
FoodForward SA’s Gqeberha Warehouse Manager, Jameel Nordien, said demand for food support has increased significantly following recent factory closures across the region. The organisation currently supplies nearly 150 beneficiary organisations every month, with requests for larger food baskets continuing to grow.
Despite the increasing need, Nordien says there is reason for optimism.
More businesses are stepping forward to support FoodForward SA than ever before, strengthening the organisation’s ability to reach families facing food insecurity.
It’s a reminder that while hunger remains one of South Africa’s greatest challenges, hope often begins when people decide to work together.
Because sometimes changing a child’s future starts with something as simple and as powerful as putting food on the table.
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