Two Stellenbosch University (SU) societies recently collaborated to prepare and donate hundreds of sandwiches to those in need of food. The two societies – the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and GraceLife Stellenbosch – held the sandwich drive on 21 August with the help of donations, including R1 000, various spreads, and 30 to 40 loaves of bread.
This is according to Yasmeen Zingitwa, vice chairperson of the MSA.
A sandwich drive hosted by the Stellenbosch University Muslim Student Association (MSA) and GraceLife Stellenbosch saw a significantly larger amount of donations this year compared to last year, according to Yasmeen Zingitwa, MSA vice-chairperson. PHOTO: Alison Hermanus
The drive and distribution
The sandwiches were given to The Ark, which is a registered non-profit organisation that “provides a loving and caring temporary home, along with food and clothing, to destitute, homeless, abandoned, abused, and unemployed women, children, and men”, according to their website.
As part of the collaboration, MSA collected the donations for the drive and GraceLife organised the distribution of the sandwiches, said Zingitwa.
Volunteers from both the Stellenbosch University Muslim Student Association (MSA) and GraceLife Stellenbosch came to Irene women’s residence to make sandwiches which were donated to The Ark, which is an organisation in Stellenbosch that helps community members in need, according to GraceLife member Mieke van Rooyen. PHOTO: Alison Hermanus
“It was a nice fluid dynamic between [the societies] because we were all there to make the sandwiches,” she said. There were around 20 volunteers helping at the drive.
The donation period for the sandwich drive was from 12 to 20 August, according to MSA’s Instagram pages. In addition to donations, they urged people to spread the word about the drive, according to their Instagram.
Reaching out a fundamental pillar
“The amount of bread and donations […] that we have this year compared to last year [is] much more,” said Ahmad Najjaar, MSA chairperson.
It is important for MSA to host and participate in community outreaches, like the sandwich drive, because it is a fundamental pillar of Islam, according to Najjaar and Zingitwa.
“The reasoning behind it is to make a difference […] and to keep making more connections with other societies,” said GraceLife member Mieke van Rooyen.
Volunteers spent over two hours making sandwiches that were donated to the Ark, an organisation in Stellenbosch that helps community members in need. This drive was organised by the Stellenbosch University Muslim Student Association (MSA) and GraceLife Stellenbosch, according to Ahmad Najjaar, MSA chairperson. PHOTO: Alison Hermanus
Editor’s note: This article was updated on 3 September to correct the title of Ahmad Najjaar.