The community of Benoni spread the love – and the peanut butter – and helped make over 22,000 sandwiches for children who needed them, in the second school term. And the challenge is still on!
Johannesburg, South Africa (22 September 2026) – Throughout the second school term, the Benoni community brought their bread loaves to the table and, through The Matthew 25 Project’s sandwich drive, provided a total of 22,770 sarmies for schoolchildren who needed them!
The local NPO provides safe housing, care and food programmes for vulnerable, abandoned, abused and neglected children.
Through its Lunchbox Project, the organisation distributes 990 sandwiches every Wednesday and Friday to little bellies that might otherwise have gone hungry. That adds up to just under 2000 sarmies handed out each week.
The community is a big part of the drive – especially learners from local schools.
Students at Pinnacle College Rynfield, Ashton International College, Benoni Primary and High School, St Dunstan’s College compete (in friendly fashion) to raise the sandwich tally and feed as many hungry mouths as possible.
The project’s young volunteers make the sandwiches themselves at home, drop them off at the charity and earn community service hours while doing good.
Members of the broader community also get involved by making sarmies, donating bread and spreads, and encouraging others to help grow the sarmie army.
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“For a child who arrives at school hungry, something as simple as a sandwich can mean a full tummy, better concentration and one less thing to worry about during the school day.”
“None of this happens without people! To every person who donated bread, peanut butter or jam, made sandwiches at home, helped us spread the word, donated financially or simply stepped in when our supplies were running low – THANK YOU!”
Some spread the peanut butter, others spread the word. Together, Benoni made a difference!
Plus, the sandwich drive is still going. The initiative runs throughout the year, with community members and local schools continuing to rise to the challenge and stack up as many sarmies as they can!
If you’d like to get involved, find out more here.
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