BB Bakeries and Habitat for Humanity have teamed together to turn bread into bricks - they use the funds gained from selling bread to buy building materials.

So far they have built four complete homes for people affected by the natural disasters and poverty in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and there are more homes to be built soon.

Through the Bread for Bricks campaign, one brick was donated for every loaf sold, helping build four safe, sturdy homes for families in Eskhaleni and Nseleni in KZN.

On November 22, BB Bakeries, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity South Africa, celebrated this achievement with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at two of the new homes.

Local community members, dignitaries, and the new homeowners gathered to mark this milestone and share in the joy of what the campaign has accomplished.

Stephanie Hoy, Marketing Executive at Premier FMCG, said BB Bread for Bricks campaign is a community-driven initiative launched by BB Bakeries in the heart of KZN. This is the second year the campaign is running and it’s aimed at rebuilding homes in KZN communities for beneficiaries who have lost their homes due to poverty, flooding or other disasters.

“BB Bakeries sought to support the recovery of the KZN communities by pledging to donate a brick for every loaf of bread sold during the campaign. These bricks contribute to the rebuilding efforts in partnership with Habitat for Humanity SA,” Ms Hoy said. “Our aim was to sell enough bread to ensure we could deliver four fully completed homes, which we did. There are another four homes currently under construction.”

From left, Julian Singonzo, Managing Executive at Premier FMCG; Thulisiwe Mkhize, new homeowner, and Counsellor Xolani Ngwezi. The home owners also received food parcels

Ms Hoy added that they chose to partner with Habitat for Humanity on this project because they have been improving livelihoods and reducing housing poverty for low-income families in South Africa since 1996. Through this project and campaign, BB Bakeries hope to establish a long term partnership with Habitat For Humanity and commit to delivering new homes yearly - restoring the dignity to KZN communities.

Ms Hoy said BB Bakeries is also involved in many community projects, all aimed at improving the lives of people.

“We have a créche programme and have adopted over 100 créches across KZN to ensure the children are cared for in a safe and happy place. We also have programmes aimed at educating schools and communities about the benefits of recycling – we encourage the collection of empty BB Bakeries bags in return for rewards such as free bread, shopping vouchers or rewards for schools. We also support multiple old age homes, feeding schemes and soup kitchens who care for the most vulnerable in our communities,” said Ms Hoy.

National Director for Habitat For Humanity, Daphney Ngoasheng said the selection of beneficiaries for housing is managed through the standing relations they have with government through the Human Settlement Department, filtering through province and local municipalities.

“The partnership with BB Bakeries is very crucial to Habitat for Humanity, it enable us to live up to our purposes of striving towards ensuring that every South African has an adequate home to live in,” she said.

“The construction of these homes means that we have secured the life of some of the most vulnerable members in our society. The impact of this donation is that four more families had their dignity restored to the benefit of generations down the family line.”

New home owner, Thulisiwe Mkhize said she is grateful for having a roof over her head.

“For us, having a safe home changes everything,” said Ms Mkhize. “We can now sleep safely, and my children have a place to study. We are so grateful to everyone who made this happen.”

For more information about BB Bakeries and the Bread for Bricks campaign, visit www.bbbakeries.co.za

Government officials, BB Bakeries staff and community members arriving for the ribbon cutting ceremony at a newly built home. Pictures: SUPPLIED

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