Ladles of Love all set to serve

The Ladles of Love team is hard at work preparing for Mandela Day. 

The national non-government organisation is offering volunteers the opportunity to come and stuff toys; colour in books and charts; plant some seeds; or fill a jar of hope for early childhood development (ECD) centre pupils, at the DHL Stadium, in Cape Town and Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, in Johannesburg, on Friday July 18.

Danny Diliberto, founder and chief executive officer of Ladles of Love, said that they believe that every plate of healthy food has the power to change a life. 

“Mandela Day reminds us that we all have the ability to uplift our communities through volunteerism,” he said.

Mr Diliberto said that this year they were inviting people to buy tickets and through acts of kindness, make items that support early childhood development by giving small children hope and a healthy start in life.

Volunteers at the Cape Town Stadium can also make their mark on a canvas curated by Australian street-style artist and muralist Hans Bruechle, also known as Handbrake.

On Thursday, July 3, Atlantic Sun went behind the scenes with the team of professionals preparing to host more than 12 000 volunteers at Cape Town Stadium.

Ladles of Love has grown exponentially since the Covid-19 pandemic, in March 2020, and has served more than 48 million meals to people in need. 

Today, the organisation focuses on nurturing, nourishing, and growing over 7 500 young children at preschools in underserved communities.

Their Nourish Our Children programme supports principals by uplifting and training teachers on good nutrition.

Volunteers would be of service for two-hours, during the 67-minute of service day, in honour of the birthday of former President Nelson Mandela.  

Together with Mr Bruechle, they will be able to make a fingerprint and or personal message of love and support for children at one of the 42 Ladles of Love ECD centres they serve in the Western Cape. 

The 42 separate canvases, once assembled, will form a 20-square-metre artwork that will remain a work in progress. Mr Bruechle’s design features volunteers painting South African native flowers, plants, and animals, conveying a message of love and support.

“By including space for volunteers to write a heartfelt message of support or add their fingerprint, not only are they adding to the overall artwork, but hopefully it reminds the kids who see it that there are people out there who do care,” he said.

“Real people who want a better country and a better world and who hope for a bright future for every child. It might inspire them,” he said. 

Hans said that the overall painting can only be seen when all of the canvases are together, just like a community. 

“Each of us is our own canvas, but it's when we’re together that the true meaning emerges,” he said.

Ladles of Love programme director Yolande Jones said they serve 70 ECD centres - 50 in the Western Cape, five in the Northern Cape, and 15 in Gauteng. 

She explained that the volunteers’ activities at the stadium fit into a two-hour booking, at “activation station zones”, where they would be provided with the materials to make, create, craft, or grow items to nourish and nurture children in need.

Ms Jones said that all items would be labeled creatively with a personal note or wish.

Gina Woodburn, CEO of DHL Stadium, said they were excited to host Mandela Day and were proud to open their doors to the community.

“The public is able to see the stadium in a different light, as part of our commitment to meaningful social impact,” she said.

Volunteers are invited to take part in various hands-on activities aimed at supporting children and their communities.

One of the activities includes preparing 'buckets of love' by layering dry ingredients to create soups and stews, and packing nutritious food boxes filled with essential groceries.

Participants can also contribute by adding colour to educational posters and colouring-in books, which will be distributed to preschool children and their teachers.

Another activity involves crafting stuffed toys for boys and girls - volunteers are encouraged to colour, stitch and tag each toy with care. In addition, edible garden kits will be created, offering children, teachers and parents the opportunity to grow their own vegetables. These gardens not only provide nutritious food but also promote awareness around food sustainability and self-reliance.

Volunteering will cost R250 a person, which will provide a child with two healthy meals a day for a month.

To book your tickets, decide on a venue, select a time slot, choose an activation zone, and book.

Time slots include slot 1, between 9am and 11am; slot 2, between 11am and 1pm; slot 3, between 1pm and 3pm; and slot 4, between 3pm and 5pm.

To book tickets and for more information, visit www.Ladlesoflove.org.za.

Large corporate bookings are available by emailing tickets@ladlesoflove.org.za, and individual or smaller bookings are available via the website.