Steaming hot meals and the soft weight of blankets brought much-needed warmth to hundreds in Turffontein this week, as the Moti Cares Foundation joined hands with Meals on Wheels to deliver critical aid to 500 residents in need.
In a meaningful act of collaboration, the two organisations donated blankets, bread and warm meals to 500 people.
The handover, held on Thursday, was part of the broader Moti Cares Winter Drive, an annual campaign driven by businessman and philanthropist Zunaid Moti. This year’s campaign aims to distribute 20,000 blankets and thousands of food items to vulnerable communities across the country during the winter months.
“There’s no dignity in being cold and hungry. We believe in showing up consistently, again and again, for those people who often get overlooked, or feel like they’ve been forgotten,” said Zunaid Moti, founder of Moti Cares. “The winter drive is about kindness, care, and reminding people they matter.”
Working alongside Meals and Wheels, a non-profit organisation with a 61-year track record of giving, the Turffontein initiative ensured that warm meals, fresh bread, and thick blankets were placed directly in the hands of residents. By partnering with established organisations like Meals on Wheels, Moti Cares continues to ensure that donations are delivered swiftly and respectfully to those most in need, with local insight guiding every step.
“A warm meal can uplift someone for a day, but a warm blanket can bring comfort for an entire season. Through partnerships like this one with Moti Cares, we’re able to extend our impact far beyond food and reach people in a more holistic way,” commented a Meals on Wheels representative.
The Winter Drive is now well past the halfway mark, with more than 10,000 blankets and loaves of bread already distributed since the start of June. The drive will continue every weekend through to the end of August, with new locations reached each week. From informal settlements and hospitals to neighbourhoods nominated via social media, each handover brings Moti Cares one step closer to completing its 20,000-blanket mission.
The Moti Cares Foundation remains focused on long-term social impact, with Zunaid Moti personally committed to meaningful acts of upliftment that go beyond charity and speak to human connection.
“If we can help someone feel seen, even for a moment, we’ve done our job,” Moti added.
