One bag full, one big impact

TALI FEINBERG

Together with her sister and two friends, she started the initiative based on a simple nursery rhyme, “Baa baa black sheep”, but with a far-reaching vision.

“Our challenge was to collect items in just one bag. The name came from a nursery rhyme, but instead of three bags full, you need just one bag to make a difference,” says Kempen.

She, Kelly-Anne Hodge, and Kaylin Simmons are all 28 years old, and met when they were studying at the University of Cape Town. Together with Jessica’s sister, Gina Kempen (21), they worried what would happen after the initial two-week lockdown period when things returned to “business as usual”.

“One Bag Full is intended to be the third line of defence after lockdown ends, providing collected items for those in need,” she says.

They noticed that social media was awash with challenges of doing one thing a day during the lockdown, so they asked people to collect just one item per day – be it a piece of clothing, a book, an activity, or non-perishable food – and put it in a bag.

“It was initially focused on leveraging that competitive, ‘challenger’ spirit and encouraging people to clear out their homes,” Kempen says. “Every day at 10:00, we used Instagram to announce the ‘item for the day’. Followers knew that something would be announced at the same time each day.

“In a time of so much uncertainty and no structure, this created something concrete for people to look forward to. We wanted to set up a network of people who could challenge each other and cheer each other on. We hit the ground running with this concept given the speed at which lockdown occurred,” says Kempen.

“All four of us are Cape Town born, raised, and educated,” Kempen says. She and her sister attended United Herzlia Schools, and she now works as a management consultant at Deloitte in Johannesburg. Her sister and Simmons now live in the United Kingdom.

“Kelly-Anne is a project manager for Signatura. While all of us are either full-time employees or studying, it was evident before the lockdown started that those less fortunate needed help. With extensive reach in our respective networks, we knew there was something we could do to make a difference no matter how big or small that difference would be.”

They intended to deliver the collected items after lockdown to Siyakhula in Langa, which supports children via educational programmes. “But with the extension of lockdown, we had to rethink our focus to address the immediate and pressing issue of hunger. We have thus continued the collection challenge along with collecting funds to feed the hungry in Langa. We can’t do this alone, and have worked with Rise Against Hunger Africa (RAH), the African arm of a global organisation which aims to eradicate hunger worldwide.

“RAH provides nutritionally balanced meals for hungry people for R2.90 a meal. Meal packs contain rice, soya, dehydrated vegetables, as well as 23 other vitamins and minerals. For just R8.70, one can provide three meals a day. Through our networks and theirs, we have raised in excess of R120 000, and have attracted more than 750 followers to our Instagram account @onebag_full. We have been able to provide 31 300 meals to the Langa community in just four weeks. We also challenged our followers to help us make 5 000 sandwiches, going back to our initial ‘challenger’ concept in order to get people involved.”

As they have expanded, they have been able to help more organisations and needy individuals in Langa than originally intended. Their collection drive is continuing, and they will announce drop-off points for the “one bag full” in coming weeks.

Kempen says that the response to their collection challenge and fundraising has been “incredible – even overwhelming at times. We have support from South Africa, the UK, Australia, even Hong Kong.

“We couldn’t do this alone,” she says. They have also been supported by Chad Nathan (@gingerwithagopro), who accompanied them to Langa on their first visit to document the day and share the cause with his extensive network. Corona Care donated Simba chips, independent groups collected money, and a restaurateur helped cook soup. “The South African spirit is incredible,” Kempen says. “You really do get by with a little help from your friends.

“This is like a full-time job. We are all either balancing two full-time jobs now or a full-time job and studies,” Kempen says. “It’s difficult to switch off, especially since visiting Langa and seeing what’s required on the ground.”

For the team, “There’s no ultimate goal, we aim to ensure that no one is locked out even though we are in lockdown. We want to act as a bridge between our community and networks in an area that may feel overlooked or forgotten. We adapt with the needs of the community.”

Kempen says that wherever you are in the world, you can help. “Get involved by donating. The beauty of our weak exchange rate is that foreign currency goes far when converted into rands. For £5.20 (R118) you can provide people with three meal packs a day for a whole week!

“Our Jewish and Herzlia upbringing encouraged awareness of tzedakah as well as giving back to those less fortunate. This was further engrained in us by our parents, and has made us conscious of what we have and many don’t have. From what we have seen during this bizarre time, there is a real Jewish spirit of caring and providing for others.

“Kelly-Anne and Kaylin, who went to Rustenburg Girls, share the same sentiment of selflessness and charity, yet are of a different faith. Overall, we are connected by kindness and compassion toward our fellow man.”

• To support, visit: www.onebagfull.com or @onebag_full on Instagram