On Saturday, November 30, 2024, over 100 volunteers gathered at the Centurion chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to pack food parcels. This effort was part of the church’s annual Light the World initiative, which focuses on spreading hope, joy, and Christ’s love through acts of service.
This year, the Church partnered for the sixth time with Rise Against Hunger Africa to provide meal packs for preschool-aged children in the greater Johannesburg area. Working alongside multiple early childhood development centres, the initiative supports children who rely on these meals as their main source of nutrition.
Lynne van der Hoven, one of the event’s organisers who has been involved since the initiative’s inception, shared, “For many children, this is the only meal they’ll have all day, so I know how much these packs mean to them. Packing these parcels is a chance to bring hope, especially during this Christmas season.”
Participants of all ages, friends and families, worked together to carefully measure, pack, seal, and box meal packs. Within just 30 minutes, 7,000 packs had already been completed.
Sebastian Van Brughan was among those lending a hand, happily working alongside his two little helpers to tape boxes. “When you help someone else, you unknowingly help yourself too,” he said. “The people receiving this food may not know someone cares for them, but someone does. An entire room of people.”
The volunteers also spoke about the sense of togetherness the event created, even as everyone focused on their specific tasks. “Being here with everyone and seeing their smiles reminds me of what it means to support one another,” said Tarryn Faber, a friend of the church. “Even a small, simple act like packing food can make a big difference in someone’s life.”
By the end of the day, the goal was reached, with over 30,000 meals packed and ready for delivery. The Centurion food drive did more than just provide meals—it brought people together in a spirit of Christlike service and inspired hope in both the givers and the receivers.
