IN the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) donated two Ford Ranger Double Cabs, on loan, to the South African Red Cross Society, to help them distribute food parcels, hot meals and hygiene packs to poor urban and rural communities in Port Elizabeth.
Each year, on May 8, World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day celebrates and honours the millions of volunteers and members of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies who provide a lifeline to communities in need across 189 countries. With the arrival of Covid-19, any thoughts of celebration have been superseded by the organisation’s selfless commitment to supporting desperate communities, families and individuals directly and indirectly impacted by the coronavirus.
Neale Hill, managing director of Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, said, “We applaud each and every healthcare worker, essential services provider and volunteer in the amazing work they have done to support communities affected either directly by the Covid-19 virus, or indirectly through a loss of employment and income during the national lockdown.
“We salute their unwavering dedication and commitment to addressing the most critical needs and supporting the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said Hill.
The Ford Rangers have been instrumental in the NPO’s humanitarian work. By the first week of May, the SA Red Cross Society had assisted more than 5 000 direct beneficiaries and reached 45 000 people through its Covid-19 education and awareness campaigns.
Caroline Gallant, SA Red Cross Society provincial manager for the Eastern Cape, said the Red Cross team had relied tremendously on the vehicles provided by Ford, as they don’t have a vehicle in Port Elizabeth.
“We would not have been able to bring the level of relief to communities and support our brave volunteers in the field if it wasn’t for this amazing gesture of providing us with the two bakkies on loan,” said Gallant.
To date, the Red Cross team has distributed personal protective equipment and conducted Covid-19 screening at 230 households, delivered 780 hygiene kits, served 3 843 hot meals from the load bays of the Ford Rangers at shelters, town halls and informal settlements, and handed out almost 5 000 food parcels to poor families, old age homes and children’s havens.
