As we head into the beginning of 2020, we are reflecting on the year that has passed and the numerous projects that SPAR Botswana has had the opportunity to be a part of. In this instalment – Community and Sponsorship Projects.
SPAR believes in giving back. Giving back to the community, to the people who are less fortunate, to the people who make SPAR what we are. Throughout the year, there have been a few causes and projects that came to our attention and we wanted to do our part to contribute to these causes.
Here are just a few instances from the past year where SPAR gave back to the community:
Walk of Hope: SPAR donated 15 food hampers, toiletry hampers and school shoes to the value of P12 000 to the Walk of Hope Foundation, who then distributed the donations among fifteen school children at Ranoi Primary School. The school children and their families were in desperate need of the groceries and school shoes.
Bank Gaborone SPAR Apple Diabetes Project: This campaign ran from 15 May to 15 July 2019. SPAR stores around the country sold 1.5kg Econo Apple packs and P3 from each bag sold was donated to the Diabetes Association. Over the two month period, SPAR sold a whopping 89 151 bags of apples and raised P267 453 towards the fight against Diabetes.
House of Angels: 32 picnic parcels and 32 toiletry hampers worth P5 940.30 were donated to Ditsegwane Primary School near Lethakeng in the Kweneng West Region. House of Angels arranged for SPAR to meet the learners of the school, spend the day with them and hand over the hampers.
Sanitary Pad Campaign: Did you know that some girls end up missing a week of school every month because they have nothing to use while menstruating? SPAR set up donation buckets in stores around the country and asked our customers to donate sanitary towels to keep our girls in school. SPAR challenged the public and promised to match the amount that the community donated. That’s what they did and the Minister of Health selected the schools and distributed 8713 sanitary pads to schoolgirls across the country.
BSPCS Sterilization Clinic: Animal safety and responsible pet ownership is important to us at SPAR. The Botswana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals held a Sterilization Clinic near Mafenyatlala to help pet owners neuter their animals and reduce the number of unwanted strays. The staff of the clinic had a long hot day, working hard to help as many animals as possible. SPAR delivered P1 351.40 of food and refreshments to them throughout the day to keep them going and keep their energy up.
SOS Fun Day: SPAR joined up with SOS Children’s Village to give the children a Fun Day. The day was filled with laughter, smiles, happiness and of course, a whole lot of fun. SPAR entertained the children with jumping castles, clowns, music, face painting, T-shirts, caps and LOTS and of food and drink to go with it. It was a spectacular day that everyone who was there will never forget.