Latest news with #hungerrelief
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
South African cooks join forces to make 67,000 liters of soup to fight hunger on Mandela Day
Dozens of South African chefs, community cooks, caterers, and culinary students joined forces Friday in Johannesburg to make 67,000 liters (17,700 gallons) of soup to feed the hungry, in celebration of Nelson Mandela Day. First officially recognized by the United Nations in 2009, International Nelson Mandela Day encourages people to commemorate the birthday and legacy of South Africa's first Black president by volunteering for 67 minutes, which is equivalent to his 67 years of public service. To mark the birthday of South Africa's former head of state, who was born in 1918, cooks all over the country made soup in their own kitchens to contribute toward reaching the target. At the Johannesburg-based HTA School of Culinary Arts, cooks chopped vegetables, added legumes and sprinkled in a kaleidoscope of seasonings to make hearty soups. They braised their broths from early morning until 5:30 p.m., when the final soup tally began. 'The 67,000 liters, it's our take on 67 minutes,' said executive chef and chairman of NGO Chefs with Compassion, James Khoza. 'I did a lentil soup with vegetables and a bit of chicken pieces inside. It's not your normal kind of soup where you boil everything, then you make the soup out of it. For me, I look at flavor and is it quality as well. 'I know the guys are on the streets sometimes, or the beneficiaries, people tend to just give them whatever they feel like giving, but .... guys like us who come from hotel business, we understand that what we must feed people must be of that level, highest quality, that they feel like they are worthy because indeed they are worthy, " he added. Every year, South Africans volunteer their time on July 18, cleaning up public spaces, helping at schools or hospitals, or performing humanitarian work and making donations. For Chefs with Compassion, a non-profit organization that works to combat hunger and food waste, the food drive is 'a war against throwing away food and wasteful cooking,' Khoza says. This year marks the sixth consecutive year that they've rescued excess food from farmers and shops that would otherwise have been thrown out. Instead, the chefs use it to make large quantities of soup to offer to the thousands of Johannesburg residents who are food insecure. As part of her school's effort to add 300 liters of soup to the 67,000 liters that the collective aims for, Tyra Nyakudya, an 18-year-old college student, spent most of the day cutting vegetables and monitoring the soup pots. Although she was only six years old when the statesman passed away in 2013, she said his legacy of compassion and service remain in the memory because 'he did everything in his power to give back to the community, which is why we're doing this today.' South Africa is among Africa's leading food producers, but the 2024 National Food and Nutrition Security Survey (NFNSS) report found that 63.5% of South African households were food insecure, which translates to over 20 million people going without food every day and about 10.3 million tons of food being wasted annually. This is primarily driven by poverty, unemployment, and rising food prices, which are exacerbated by factors such as climate change and inequality. Hanneke Van Linge, head of Nosh Food Rescue, said the figures illustrated that food waste and food surplus is a huge problem, which should concern citizens every day. 'There's a lot of beautiful energy around Mandela Day specifically," she said. 'But we would like to implore people, don't just let your involvement stay on Mandela Day.'
Associated Press
3 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
South African cooks join forces to make 67,000 liters of soup to fight hunger on Mandela Day
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Dozens of South African chefs, community cooks, caterers, and culinary students joined forces Friday in Johannesburg to make 67,000 liters (17,700 gallons) of soup to feed the hungry, in celebration of Nelson Mandela Day. First officially recognized by the United Nations in 2009, International Nelson Mandela Day encourages people to commemorate the birthday and legacy of South Africa's first Black president by volunteering for 67 minutes, which is equivalent to his 67 years of public service. To mark the birthday of South Africa's former head of state, who was born in 1918, cooks all over the country made soup in their own kitchens to contribute toward reaching the target. At the Johannesburg-based HTA School of Culinary Arts, cooks chopped vegetables, added legumes and sprinkled in a kaleidoscope of seasonings to make hearty soups. They braised their broths from early morning until 5:30 p.m., when the final soup tally began. 'The 67,000 liters, it's our take on 67 minutes,' said executive chef and chairman of NGO Chefs with Compassion, James Khoza. 'I did a lentil soup with vegetables and a bit of chicken pieces inside. It's not your normal kind of soup where you boil everything, then you make the soup out of it. For me, I look at flavor and is it quality as well. 'I know the guys are on the streets sometimes, or the beneficiaries, people tend to just give them whatever they feel like giving, but .... guys like us who come from hotel business, we understand that what we must feed people must be of that level, highest quality, that they feel like they are worthy because indeed they are worthy, " he added. Every year, South Africans volunteer their time on July 18, cleaning up public spaces, helping at schools or hospitals, or performing humanitarian work and making donations. For Chefs with Compassion, a non-profit organization that works to combat hunger and food waste, the food drive is 'a war against throwing away food and wasteful cooking,' Khoza says. This year marks the sixth consecutive year that they've rescued excess food from farmers and shops that would otherwise have been thrown out. Instead, the chefs use it to make large quantities of soup to offer to the thousands of Johannesburg residents who are food insecure. As part of her school's effort to add 300 liters of soup to the 67,000 liters that the collective aims for, Tyra Nyakudya, an 18-year-old college student, spent most of the day cutting vegetables and monitoring the soup pots. Although she was only six years old when the statesman passed away in 2013, she said his legacy of compassion and service remain in the memory because 'he did everything in his power to give back to the community, which is why we're doing this today.' South Africa is among Africa's leading food producers, but the 2024 National Food and Nutrition Security Survey (NFNSS) report found that 63.5% of South African households were food insecure, which translates to over 20 million people going without food every day and about 10.3 million tons of food being wasted annually. This is primarily driven by poverty, unemployment, and rising food prices, which are exacerbated by factors such as climate change and inequality. Hanneke Van Linge, head of Nosh Food Rescue, said the figures illustrated that food waste and food surplus is a huge problem, which should concern citizens every day. 'There's a lot of beautiful energy around Mandela Day specifically,' she said. 'But we would like to implore people, don't just let your involvement stay on Mandela Day.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Storehouse New Mexico holds 'knock hunger out of the park' food drive
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The 'knock hunger out of the park food drive' is being put on by Sandia Area Federal Credit Union and is supporting Storehouse New Mexico food pantry. UNM duck pond to reopen soon Throughout July and August community members have a chance to donate food and earn some rewards. During each collection event the public is invited to drop off canned food donations or financial gifts for Storehouse New Mexico. Everyone who donates will win tickets to a local event and can win gifts from local radio stations. Additionally, everyone who donates will be entered for a chance to win a trip to see a major league baseball game of your choice, including tickets, airfare and accommodations. The next collection event will be July 17, from 12 – 1 p.m. at the Sandia Area Credit Union located at Wyoming and Candelaria in Albuquerque. For more information and a schedule of future collection events, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Forty Years Later: How Live Aid Changed Charitable Giving And The World
Charles and Diana, the Prince and Princess of Wales, with Bob Geldof and Paula Yates at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in 1985. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) Corbis via Getty Images Forty years ago, Prince Charles and Princess Diana officially opened Live Aid. They were royalty, to be sure, but pop royalty was waiting on stage at Wembley Stadium in London, too, to make history. That's because Live Aid performers didn't just play in London, but also just up the road from me at what was then John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, resulting in a global phenomenon. Live Aid was a "super concert," featuring 16 hours of rock music in two venues linked by satellite, so that people at home could watch too. More than a billion viewers in 110 countries were said to have watched the concert—organizers claimed that more than 40% of the population tuned in with many dialing in to make donations. The benefit raised over $125 million for hunger relief aimed at Africa. In the 1980s, you couldn't switch on a television or open a newspaper without hearing about the famines in Africa, specifically in Ethiopia. A perfect storm of drought and civil war (the longest of the 20th century) resulted in severe food shortages. By the mid-1980s, the hunger crisis in Ethiopia alone was thought to have resulted in over one million famine deaths, according to the United Nations. The news made an impact. One of those who caught the 10-minute segment was Bob Geldof (now Sir Bob Geldof), of The Boomtown Rats, who felt that he needed to do something. His first thought? A charity record. Singers recording 'Do They Know Its Christmas' for Band Aid at Basing St Studios, November 26th 1984. (Photo by Steve Hurrell/Redferns via Getty Images) Redferns The result was Band Aid, a 1984 "super group" made up of such performers as U2's Bono, Phil Collins, Boy George, Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon, George Michael, Sting, and Jody Watley. The song that came from that first effort, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (admit it, it's in your head now), became a hit, selling over two million copies and raising millions for charity. After Geldof had promised that every penny would go to famine relief, he received pushback from the British Government, which refused to waive the VAT (Value Added Tax, similar to our sales taxes) on sales of the single. The UK government had continued to collect from sales of the single, while the Irish government received nothing, having waived the tax so that all of the money would go to charity. Britain's Labour leader at the time, Neil Kinnock, asked that all VAT revenue raised on sales of the charity record be given to famine relief. Then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher responded by asking, 'How, in fairness could we contribute the VAT raised on the Band Aid record to the fund-raising cause, but refuse it in all other cases?' Geldof made a public stance against Thatcher in response. Later, the Prime Minister and Geldof became friends, even sharing a whiskey and a chat at No. 10. Thatcher also put famine relief on the G7 agenda, saying: 'And we also find our pop stars under Bob Geldof's leadership, converting their musical tribute into food and shelter for the hungry. I would like to add my personal thanks to all who contributed to that inspired piece of music-making.' In 1985, the government agreed to make a donation to charity equivalent to the VAT collected on sales of the original 1984 Band Aid record. USA For Africa A variety of music and movie stars sing "We Are The World" a song written to benefit famine victims in Ethiopia. Across the front row stands: Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Sheila E., Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Kim Carnes, Michael Douglas, and Janet Jackson. Bettmann Archive The single also struck a chord. The success of BandAid inspired USA For Africa, a similar movement in the United States. The song "We Are The World" was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones. The single, featuring solos by such luminaries as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen and Cyndi Lauper, was released on March 7, 1985, and went on to sell more than 10 million copies. Live Aid LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 13: Freddie Mercury of Queen performs on stage at Live Aid on July 13th, 1985 in Wembley Stadium, London, England (Photo by Pete Still/Redferns) Redferns Geldof later worked to merge the two together in one concert: Live Aid. Just a few months later, the global benefit became a reality. The goal was to make it as big as possible, with performances in at least two venues. Performers in London included Elvis Costello, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Queen, Elton John (now Sir), George Michael, and Paul McCartney (also now Sir). Performers in Philadelphia included Run DMC, Rick Springfield, Santana, The Cars, Patti LaBelle, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner—and, of course, a hometown favorite, the Hooters, a move that Geldof was reportedly not on board with. (Two of the biggest stars of the day opted out, including Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen, who was on his honeymoon.) There were some iconic moments during the more than 16-hour long list of performances. Who can forget a young Bette Midler introducing an even younger Madonna in Philadelphia? Or Jack Nicholson introducing U2 as a band 'who never has a problem expressing how they feel'? Or Phil Collins playing in London before jumping on Concorde to play drums in Philadelphia that same day with Led Zeppelin? Or Queen clearly making a statement that they weren't done yet with a memorable rendition of 'Radio Ga Ga'? This all happened without the internet. Without email. Without cell phones. "Live streaming" was done by satellite to televisions. And it worked. The Money Live Aid raised more than $125 million for famine relief (a 1986 article in Spin magazine suggested that not all of the money was used appropriately, an allegation that Geldof disputes). What is indisputable, however, is that the event contributed to an awareness of global poverty and hunger, forcing world leaders to address the issues in a public way. Geldof continued to champion charitable causes, earning him a knighthood. The concert also became a sort of template for perfecting future benefit concerts like Farm Aid (for American farmers), Live 8, and America: A Tribute to Heroes (for 9/11 relief). Donating To Charity Feeling inspired to donate money to your favorite cause? If you want to receive a tax deduction for your contribution, your donation must be made to a qualified organization. Those generally include religious organizations like churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques in the U.S., as well as domestic nonprofit schools and hospitals. It also includes what we typically think of as charitable organizations like the American Red Cross and the United Way. An easy way to check charitable status is to click over to the Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool on the IRS website or call the IRS (toll-free) at 1.877.829.5500. But before you send money abroad, remember that you are typically not allowed to claim a tax deduction for your contribution to a non-U.S.-based charitable organization, no matter how great the cause. One way to provide aid in a foreign country while still qualifying for a deduction—and to ensure that you're following those non-tax rules—is to donate to U.S.-based organizations that assist individuals in foreign countries. Donations to those U.S.-based organizations, such as the Red Cross, will normally qualify for charitable deductions even if they are providing services in foreign countries so long as they otherwise meet the rules as domestic tax-exempt charities. You may still donate to non-U.S.-based charitable organizations. However, those donations are not considered tax-deductible charitable contributions—even if they are made to charitable organizations in the country where services are being performed. And while it used to be the case that you needed to itemize to benefit from a charitable gift, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions may still claim a deduction for contributions. Beginning in 2026, taxpayers who do not itemize can claim a deduction of up to $1,000 ($2,000 for those taxpayers who are married filing jointly) for certain charitable contributions. The new law also creates a 0.5% floor on charitable contributions for taxpayers who itemize. A floor is a baseline that you have to exceed in order to benefit from the deduction (the medical expense deduction also has a floor). In this case, taxpayers who itemize can only deduct the amounts over 0.5% of their adjusted gross income (AGI). Here's a quick example: Let's say your AGI is $100,000 and you donated $1,500. You can deduct $1,000—that's your $1,500 donation less the floor of $500 ($100,000 x .5%). For more tips on making your charitable donations count, click here. Forbes Simple Tips To Maximize The Tax Benefits Of Your Charitable Giving By Kelly Phillips Erb Forbes How To Donate 80,000 Comic Books—And Get A Marvelous Tax Break By Kelly Phillips Erb Forbes TikTok And Other Social Media Posts Are Wrong About Charity At The Checkout By Kelly Phillips Erb
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Farm Share to distribute produce, canned goods in Tallahassee area
Farm Share, Florida's leading food nonprofit and the state's largest food bank, is distributing food to food-insecure Floridians in the Tallahassee area starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 12, at 2525 S. Monroe St., while supplies last. Recipients will receive fresh produce and non-perishable canned goods. Distributions are drive-thru only to minimize contact and to help ensure the safety of all parties. Attendees must arrive in a vehicle with a trunk or cargo bed. With more than 3.9 million families suffering from food insecurity throughout Florida, Farm Share meets the everyday hunger needs of Floridians by working hand-in-hand with local farmers to recover and redistribute produce that would otherwise be thrown away due to aesthetic imperfections. Farm Share also distributes food to the community through its network of soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, churches, and senior centers across Florida free of charge. To find a food pantry near you, visit This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Farm Share to distribute food in Tallahassee drive-thru July 12
