South Africans are wanting to support people and charities in need – this is how you can build up the best food hamper to make a difference.
South Africa (30 September 2020) – Many people have reached out to ask what are the very best things to place inside a food hamper for people in need. After consulting with various organisations, taking a look at what they place in their hampers/parcels, we have the perfect list for you.
Your typical Food Hamper
The typical items in a food hamper vary from organisation to organisation so we worked through a few to bring you a list of items to add to your own. The size of the products you place in the hamper should be based on your own budget.
All food hampers should contain non-perishable items but you can supply some fresh fruits and vegetables that have a longer shelf-life. This just adds additional nutrients which would otherwise be lacking.
- Rice
- Maize Meal
- Flour (Self-raising is the best option)
- Pasta
- Sugar
- Oil
- Legumes: Dried beans, Lentils, Split Peas.
- Tinned Foods: Beans, Meat, Fish, Vegetables.
- Yeast (If you put regular flour in the hamper)
- Longlife Milk
- Soup Packets
- Stock Cubes
- Curry Powder
- Fresh Fruit: Oranges, Apples
- Fresh Vegetables: Carrots, Potatoes, Cabbage
- Tea
- Coffee
- Oats
- Peanut Butter
If you would like to add in a few cleaning and hygiene items, these come in handy.
- Soap Bar
- Laundry Soap Bar
- Vaseline
- Zambuck or alternative vapour rubs
- Hand Sanitiser
- Cloth Mask
The Budget Food Hamper
Filling a full hamper for more than one person can be quite expensive so if you want to make a difference but are on a tight budget, bags of hope could be a good way to go and you touch more lives.
The bag of hope is made up of a few items and feeds four people for a day. To make a bag of hope, you will need to purchase the following items:
- Rice
- Soup Mix or Split Peas
- Lentils
- Stock Cubes
- A Packet of Soup (Onion and Minestrone are good options)
- Ziplock Bags
It will cost you roughly (if you can find specials, even better!) R150.00 to make up ten to twelve bags. Buying bulk means you can make even more. This is how you fill one:
- Half a cup of Rice
- Half a cup of Soup Mix or Split Peas
- Half a cup of Lentils
- 1 Stock Cube
- 1 Packet of Soup
Write or print out the instructions. Bring 2.5l of water to a boil and add the contents of the bag. Cook for 40 to 45 minutes and serve. The bag of hope feeds four people for the day.
These are great to keep in your car and to hand out to car guards and beggars. If you wish to work with a charity on this project, take a look at the link to our list below.
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How to make a food hamper sustainable?
People have argued that food hampers are not sustainable and we agree but while there are so many people struggling to find work and feed their families, this is the best way forward. You can, however, make a food hamper sustainable by including a packet of seeds for a good, hardy vegetable.
Most grocery stores will have a selection of vegetable seeds on hand. These are some you can add to the food hamper that will grow quickly or are very hardy and long-lasting. These seeds are easy to start and do not require a fully-fledged gardener.
- Radish
- Cabbage
- Swiss Chard (often referred to as spinach in South Africa)
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Beetroot
- Turnips
So there you have it, a good guide on how to help others with food hampers. Community Action Networks (CANs) can help you to reach more people in need; you can do more by supporting your local CAN. Check our charity list here to see if there is a CAN or charity near you.
Play Your Part is a nationwide movement created to inspire, empower and celebrate active citizenship in South Africa. Its objective is to lift the spirit of our nation by inspiring all South Africans to contribute to positive change, become involved and start doing – because a nation of people who care deeply for one another and the environment in which they live is good for everyone. The campaign is driven by Brand South Africa.
Play Your Part is aimed at all South Africans – from corporates to individuals, NGOs to government, churches to schools, young to not so young. It aims to encourage South Africans to use some of their time, money, skills or goods to contribute to a better future for all.
There are numerous opportunities, big and small, for each and every South African to make a positive difference in the communities in which they live and operate. Play Your Part encourages them to act on these opportunities.
For more information on how you can play your part click here #GetInvolved #PlayYourPart
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