Vaal Hungerbusters to the rescue!
VANDERBIJLPARK/SASOLBURG. - Organised business in the region possibly hit hardest economically in Gauteng by the Covid-19 lockdown - the Vaal Triangle - has responded by organising business-led hunger relief efforts to rival the biggest and best in the country.
Vaal Business Hungerbusters (VBH) performs miracles daily to collect, distribute and deliver bulk food and clothing to tens of thousands in dire need throughout the Vaal Triangle including Sasolburg – with more than 155 000 bulk meals already delivered. That includes delivering food to at least 33 charity and humanitarian organisations in the Vaal region.
Emerald Resort and Casino director Mark Hands said in a media statement that he and Emerald were “immensely proud” to be associated with the VBH project – established and managed by the Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC). VBH operates from premises provided by Emerald Resort and Casino in Vanderbijlpark.
And VBH is here to stay as long as the need and even seems set to develop into a permanent poverty-alleviation programme in the Vaal by the GTCoC, said Hands.
The GTCoC started VBH on an emergency basis just after lockdown started but is now running full steam from the Emerald Resort and Casino.
Food and clothing comes from donating businesses and individuals themselves hit hard by lockdown in a region already facing major economic and investment challenges long before the pandemic.
In only weeks since the declaration of hard lockdown, VBH has already distributed food equivalent to more than 155 000 meals utilising a network of security companies, businesses and even local municipalities for daily distribution.
“It’s nothing short of a miracle – we are seeing the emergence of a business-led philanthropic force rivalling the best in South Africa and that from a business region already battered hardest by lockdown and long before.
“But the harder lockdown bites, the bigger the giving hearts of Vaal business and its donors seem to grow,” says Hands.
What started as an emergency feeding scheme for employees of GTCoC member companies, has now morphed into a major hunger and poverty-relief effort throughout the sprawling Vaal Triangle in southern Gauteng and also Sasolburg in the northern Free State.
Staffed and managed exclusively by volunteers, VBH is here to stay for at least the duration of the lockdown economic and social crisis – and perhaps even beyond as it evolves from hunger relief to multi-faceted poverty alleviation.
“Emerald Resort and Casino is immensely proud of our close involvement and relationship with the GTCoC over many years and this flows from the business and social relevance of our shared vision and approach, coupled with shared projects,” says Hands.
Klippies Kritzinger, veteran Vaal philanthropist and GTCoC CEO, said VBH – due to the magnificent contribution and ongoing support of the Emerald Resort and Casino – now stood on the shoulders of many business people and donors who gave so much from the very beginning even as business shut down for lockdown.
“The GTCoC will deepen and broaden VBH into a fully-sustainable and multi-faceted anti-poverty empowerment programme with appropriate financial controls in place to make sure donations go straight to the needy without unnecessary management and administration costs,” said Kritzinger.
Alice de Jager, volunteer VBH Operations Director, echoes Kritzinger’s end-goal. “I wake up every day so humbled at the big, big heart of Vaal business people and other donors who are also suffering hugely and I thank God every day for the opportunity to work with volunteers and entrepreneurs of this calibre,” said de Jager.
To make donations in cash or food and clothing call 016 018 0337.
