Boschendal has joined forces with Old Bethlehem, churches, schools and community leaders in the Dwars River Valley as a response to the impact of corona-virus in the Dwars River Valley.

Since, the implementation of the 21-day lockdown period in South Africa on 27 March 2020, Boschendal has focused its efforts on distributing food to those most in need during this time. An abundance of produce combined with the temporary closure of the hospitality arm of the business has allowed Boschendal to make a real difference in our community’s time of need, and give back to the people who have been a part of our extended family for generations.

We will continue to harvest vegetables, bake bread and produce meat and eggs now and over the coming weeks, and distribute these supplies to soup kitchens throughout the valley. Once a week, Boschendal will deliver 200 loaves of bread and around 1,000 eggs to two soup kitchens in Lanquedoc and one in Kylemore, while planning is underway to find a distribution point in Meerlust Bosbou with the necessary permits to allow them to also become an additional distribution centre. Boschendal is also supplying meat, eggs and vegetables to the Pebbles Project Kitchen which is producing 2500 family meals a week and an additional 500 family packs that feed a family for a week. More than 1,000 Boschendal eggs are also being sent to the kitchen at Foliage in Franschhoek – one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants – which has diverted its resources to prepare thousands of food packs for distressed families in the area.

Meanwhile, all Boschendal workers have been assured that their jobs and incomes are secure, irrespective of the shutdown and disruption, at least until the end of the year.

Boschendal also supported an awareness campaign at 25 points in local villages with hand-washing stations and information hubs about COVID-19 and how to prevent the spread of infection.

There is no question that COVID-19 and the global economic shutdown puts many of us in difficult and challenging circumstances. At the same time, however, it is extremely heartening to see communities large and small pulling together to care for those less fortunate. We are very proud of our hard-working team and are pleased to be in a position to lend a helping hand and ease the burden of this unprecedented health crisis wherever we can.

Coordination of these efforts is being carried out through “Dwarsrivier Span Saam” – Dwars River Teams Up, a community co-operative kicked off in the week before lockdown, in a partnership between Boschendal, Old Bethlehem and churches, schools and community leaders in the Dwars River Valley.

We are in this together!