Affinity Enterprises says that, since the start of the nationwide lockdown, the holding company for the Affinity brand of insurance products has supported over 30 organisations with crisis relief. 

Working with The 100% Foundation, Affinity Enterprises says that its immediate objective was to help alleviate hunger caused by minimised opportunities to work through this difficult time but it soon became apparent that support in other areas was also desperately needed.

In addition to distributing over 5 900 non-perishable food parcels to over 29 500 people, Affinity Enterprises has assisted over 200 people with sanitiser packs and correct handwashing techniques. Additionally, close to 650 children have received beanies and blankets during its 2020 Winter Drive.

The group's interventions have supported Early Childhood Education (ECD)by assisting centres with resources for skills development, as well as assisting other NGOs with nutrition programmes. Old age homes and churches have also been included in Affinity Enterprises' benefactor database.

"There has been a significant shift in nutrition programmes this year in comparison to last year," says Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Enterprises.

"Our budget has stretched by 80% on food supply as compared to 2019 and previous years. The sad reality is that The 100% Foundation has not received any funding since early March. Our contribution to organisations every month, however, has remained unchanged. We have, and will always, give 100%," adds Hewlett.

Hewlett says that Affinity Enterprises is also assisting ECD educators left with no income as a result of school closures.

"With children staying at home and parents not being able to afford school fees, the education sector has been hard hit with staggering numbers of teaching job losses and position cuts," says Hewlett.

"While limiting COVID-19 infections is a top priority, it has come at a high cost. Forbes magazine estimated that in April alone, more than 1.1 million teachers and staff worldwide lost their jobs. Those numbers are devastating. We have packaged and distributed more than 1 000 parcels of grains to the families of children from the ECDs we support," adds Hewlett.

Affinity Enterprises concludes that it and its employees are acutely aware of the challenges South Africans are facing and remain committed to helping beat back the tide of the pandemic, working with communities to combat the spread of the virus and providing support.

For more information, visit www.affinityhealth.co.za. You can also follow Affinity Enterprises on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.