"With a few clicks, people can book where they would like to offer their support, how and with whom. [This] ensures all efforts and funds raised go toward providing nutrition for children in the Early Childhood Development (ECD) phase within impoverished communities and giving access to the nutrition and amenities they need to grow," Ladles of Love says.

According to the NPO, each ticket sold ensures 40 healthy meals for small children in need, and volunteers can spend 67 minutes of their time making, creating, crafting or packing items to help these children grow.

Volunteers choose their time slot and activity and have fun doing good for good. Some of the activities include:

  • making sandwiches
  • filling Buckets of Hope
  • packing nutrition boxes
  • crafting toys
  • collating books / posters, and 
  • making mini edible garden kits.

While doing so, volunteers will participate in breaking another world record on July 18 as they strive to achieve "The largest number of volunteers paying to spend 67 minutes on Mandela Day in service to grow children in need", says the NPO. 

The organisation’s ambitious goal for the day is to raise R5-million for food to nourish over 5 500 children within the ECD phase in impoverished communities. By purchasing a ticket, participants commit to spending 67 minutes in active service making items to help nurture and grow little ones at pre-school centres and shelters.

Leebashni Reddy CSI manager of Estee Lauder says "Estee Lauder South Africa is proud to be spending our 67 minutes on Nelson Mandela Day 2024 with Ladles of Love. Employees around the country will take part in the planned activities at Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg and V&A Waterfront, Cape Town — making a meaningful difference and giving back to our communities." 

To book, individuals and entities are encouraged to click here and select ticket options for time slots at flagship events. These are to be held at V&A Waterfront's Lookout venue in Cape Town and Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. 

Alternatively, they can select the 'Create your own event' — something they can do anywhere in the world with volunteering activities. 

The NPO says while so many of us often want to help, we are never sure exactly how to go about it. Ladles of Love has already created the support and channels into impoverished communities; people are able to jump on board and give their energy, time and love to making sure children in South Africa grow up strong, with the necessary nutrition to become the future minds and strength of our beautiful nation. 

Ladles of Love concludes that when individual's 67 minutes of time are harnessed collectively as groups come together, the impact is extraordinary: We don't only change children’s lives but ours too.

As a Public Benefit Organisation, Ladles of Love can issue Section 18A Tax certificates to all individuals and companies contributing to the campaign. 

For more information, visit www.ladlesoflove.org.za. You can also follow Ladles of Love on Facebook, X or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor