The inaugural Neelsie Food-a-thon is an exciting new fundraising initiative led by the SUNCOM Letting Office team, that has made a meaningful contribution to the Stellenbosch University (SU) student community. Launched as part of the #GivingMaties and #Move4Food campaigns, the initiative raised over R17 000 and collected more than 2 500 essential items, including food and toiletries to aid struggling students.
The success of the initiative was not measured solely by numbers. With over 8 000 people reached via social media, and countless more engaged in person at the Neelsie Student Centre, the Food-a-thon generated significant awareness of the food insecurity challenge that persists in student communities at SU and similar institutions beyond.
“As staff who engage with students daily, we see the difficult choices many of them are forced to make when it comes to meals,” said Faizel Moos, manager of the SUNCOM Letting Office. “This campaign was our team’s way of giving back, and it is only the beginning.”
Oversized and vibrantly decorated donation boxes, hand painted by Amber van Dyke – a SU Visual Arts graduate – were placed in and around the Neelsie Student Centre to attract donations. Its bold design sparked the curiosity and attention of many passers-by as well as the media, turning the campaign into a campus-wide conversation.
“The Food-a-thon brought much-needed relief during exam time,” commented Lizzie Witbooi, from SU Student Counselling and Development. “Thanks to these donations, students could focus on their studies without the added burden of hunger.”
The Neelsie Food-a-thon also supports the larger #Move4Food campaign, which aims to address student food insecurity in a sustainable and community-driven manner. The donations collected through the Neelsie initiative provide not only immediate relief but also long-term support and visibility for a pressing issue on SU campuses.
“This is what community in action looks like,” says Viwe Benxa, SU Alumni Coordinator. “We’re deeply grateful to SUNCOM and everyone who contributed. The Food-a-thon has shown what’s possible when we come together.”
The success of this first Neelsie Food-a-thon has laid the foundation for what the Letting Office team hopes will become an annual event, to encouage a giving culture.
For now, the Neelsie Student Centre stands a little prouder, not only as a student hub but also as a symbol of compassion, connection, and the power of a community working to move forward together.