Cape Town - The Sarmiethon challenge saw 20 teams battle it out against each other to see who will make the greatest number of sandwiches in tag-team style at Jetty 2 on the V&A Waterfront.
NPO Ladles of Love hosted a Sarmiethon and achieved its goal of making 50 000 sandwiches in less than 8 hours to raise food and finances for beneficiaries across the Cape Peninsula with the help of corporates, volunteers, and the general public.
Ladles of Love founder Danny Diliberto said “What an unbelievable day it was to see so many love activists pull together once again and rise above the challenge.
“This is truly the city of sarmies! We could not have done it without our partners Coronation Fund Managers, V&A Waterfront, Rhodes Quality and Blue Ribbon.”
Head of Marketing and CSI at Coronation Fund Managers, Wendy Bergsteedt, said “Coronation and its staff are absolutely committed to the long-term support of the cause of hunger relief, because it is such a pivotal issue in our country.
“We also care about education, and children can’t learn when they are hungry. People can’t reach their potential when they are perpetually hungry. Unfortunately, an estimated 2.5 million adults and 600 000 children in South Africa are perpetually hungry.”
Rhodes Quality Foods’ brand manager Tamara Patel said: “It’s an initiative that’s really close to our hearts at Rhodes Quality so we’ve sponsored all the jam for the day. We’re really excited to see this amazing turnout of volunteers to help.”
One volunteer is creative director, Thulani Fesi, representing the Masake Foundation which is a developmental agency focused on arts, culture, agriculture and property development based in Langa.
“It’s important for us to be a part of this initiative because we need an each one helps one, teach one, reach one. We’re here for the people,” says Fesi.
Walking away with the trophy and making an incredible 4 190 sandwiches was community soup kitchen Serving Hands, from Athlone.
Founder Insaaf Manual said: “We are humbled and proud for the achievement knowing that bread is GOLD to the communities we feed.”
Coming in second was the determined team from Rhodes Quality who made 3 860 sandwiches, proving that they are not only a sponsor but ready to roll up their sleeves and work.
The 57 140 sarmies will be distributed to Community Soup kitchens and Early Childhood Development Centres across the Cape Peninsula to help keep hunger at bay.
This Sarmiethon challenge was done with all Covid-safety protocols in place.
gontse.riet@inl.co.za