Algoa Cares is the CSI programme of the regional radio station Algoa FM.

People from the Buffalo City metro and surrounds are invited to invest 67 minutes of their Sunday to help make a quarter of a million meals.

The STOP HUNGER NOW initiative is being hosted by Hemingways Mall and Algoa Cares as part of their contribution to Mandela Day, a celebration of former president Nelson Mandela’s birthday of Monday, 18 July.

“Our goal is to package 250 000 meals on Sunday, 17 July 2016 between 08:00 and 20:00,” says Jennilee Peremore, manager of corporate social investment and public relations at Algoa FM. "These meals will provide 967 children with five meals a week for an entire year. But, we cannot do this without help. We need 1 680 volunteers to help us reach our target.” 

All meals packaged will benefit non-profit organisations in East London.  

In Nelson Mandela Bay, Algoa Cares has partnered with the Radisson Blu Hotel to cook at least 2 500 litres of soup to feed the hungry. 

The great soup cook-up will take place on the Pollock beach lawn opposite the Radisson Blu Hotel on Saturday, 16 July from 10:00 till 17:00.

Volunteers will be able to assist Algoa FM presenters and Radisson Blu Hotel chefs with the chopping of vegetables, the making of sandwiches or by bringing a food parcel to the value of R67. Animal lovers can also bring a tin or bag of pet food, says Peremore.

Ten Nelson Mandela Bay charities will benefit. 

Further down the coast, Eden Lions has teamed up with Algoa Cares to make Lions Snugglers.

Volunteers are invited to join Algoa FM presenter Charlton Tobias and the Lions team in the Eden Meander Lifestyle Centre on Monday, 18 July from 10:00 to 14:00 to create sleeping bags (Snugglers) made from newspapers and other recyclable material. Donations of blankets are also welcome.

“It takes about 20 minutes to make a Snuggler, so volunteers should be able to make three in their 67 minutes to honour the memory of Nelson Mandela,” says Peremore.

Tobias and Eden Lions will be handing the Snugglers out in the Blanco community, along with soup and bread, on the same evening.

For more information, visit www.algoafm.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.