Durban — This Christmas, Spar will deliver a Christmas like no other to women and children in need.

For millions of South Africans, a happy Christmas means simply having something to eat.

With this in mind, Spar’s ‘A Christmas Like No Other’ campaign brought thousands of meals to women and children in need.

Through this initiative, Spar and Spar2U travelled across the country, spreading joy, warmth and festive cheer, while delivering R2 million worth of groceries and essentials.

Spar’s ‘A Christmas Like No Other’ campaign delivers R2 million worth of groceries and essentials to women and children in need across South Africa. | Supplied

In early November, Spar invited customers nationwide to nominate local NGOs, charities, or safe homes they believed deserved support. From these nominations, two charities per province were selected to receive food deliveries tailored to bring joy and sustenance over the Christmas period.

The Spar Group’s national PR, communications & sponsorship manager Mpudi Maubane said: “Christmas is a time of giving and sharing. Although The Spar Group and many of our independently-owned stores support numerous causes throughout the year, we aimed to make this holiday season truly special.”

“This campaign is a reflection of the compassion and generosity that connects us to the communities we serve.”

Eighteen charities and safe homes across South Africa’s nine provinces, primarily supporting women and children, received customised grocery deliveries complete with nourishing food, daily essentials and Christmas treats.

Spar’s ‘A Christmas Like No Other’ campaign delivers R2 million worth of groceries and essentials to women and children in need across South Africa. | Supplied

The selected charities included:

The King's Children’s Home – Eastern Cape
Giving Gifts to Newborn Babies – Eastern Cape
Dorothy Broster Child and Youth Care Centre – Western Cape
Safe Home for Women – Western Cape
Bophelo Youth & Child Care Centre – Northern Cape
Sinothando Kids Haven – Northern Cape
Lebone Village – Free State
Reddersburg Kinderhuis – Free State
Vaal Echoes of Love – Gauteng
The Eldorado Park Women's Forum – Gauteng
SAVF Lichthuis Tehuis & Behuising – North West
Lebone Women Empowerment – North West
Huis Betlehem – Mpumalanga
SOS Children's Village – Mpumalanga
ThyRest – Limpopo
Hlatlaganya Drop-in Centre – Limpopo
Makabongwe Pre-School – KwaZulu-Natal
Ithemba Lethu – KwaZulu-Natal

Spar’s ‘A Christmas Like No Other’ campaign delivers R2 million worth of groceries and essentials to women and children in need across South Africa. | Supplied

“We chose these centres of caring from the nominations received recognising their unique challenges and the need for targeted support,” Maubane said.

“As a retailer committed to empowering women, supporting these organisations is a vital step towards uplifting and strengthening the communities we serve. We wanted to not only address immediate needs but also to foster long term resilience and growth within communities by making Christmas 2024 a time to remember for as many people as possible”.

Maubane explained that each delivery was curated based on a wish list provided by the charities, ensuring the donations met the unique dietary and nutritional needs of recipients. Essential staples such as rice, pasta, maize meal, cereals, milk, and cooking oil were included to offer sustenance and practical support. To add festive cheer, treats like biscuits, chocolates, and Christmas desserts were also included.

Additionally, Spar included toys and gifts for the children at the homes. These ensured that the children, often the most vulnerable during challenging times, could also experience a joyful Christmas.

Spar’s ‘A Christmas Like No Other’ campaign delivers R2 million worth of groceries and essentials to women and children in need across South Africa. | Supplied

Maubane said that as Christmas approaches, motivation behind this heartfelt initiative deepens. The desire to make meaningful memories echoes Spar’s core values of compassion and community upliftment. By investing in the wellbeing of their communities, they aim to spread joy and hope during the festive season, making a lasting impact on those who would receive aid. Ultimately, these efforts serve as a testament to the power of collective action in creating a brighter and fairer future for all.

“This Christmas, we aimed to do more than just meeting the basic needs of those in our communities. We wanted to give the gift of joy, of hope, of togetherness, and to make this Christmas a memorable one for everyone, especially those who need it most,” Maubane said.

“Our ‘Christmas Like No Other’ campaign underscores Spar’s commitment to addressing not only essential nutritional needs for women and children but also to creating a comprehensive and genuine impact in the communities we serve - throughout the festive season and all year round.”

Spar’s ‘A Christmas Like No Other’ campaign delivers R2 million worth of groceries and essentials to women and children in need across South Africa. | Supplied

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