For Batter Or Worse: A Single Tweet Leads To A Major Catch For Over 2,000 Cape Town Kids

Like many compelling modern love stories, a special partnership recently blossomed over social media – except this one led to over 2,000 children in Lavender Hill being fed!

What started as a punny Tweet from South African journalist and Cape Talk radio presenter, Lester Kiewit, quickly developed into a meaningful act of kindness. In response to a Valentine’s Day engagement tweet about ‘Snoekies’, a takeaway café in Hout Bay from comedian Simon Orgill, Lester declared his vows “To hake and to hold, for batter or worse, in fishness and in health, until depths do us part,” which had Sea Harvest screaming, “I do!”.

Lester then challenged Sea Harvest to prove their true love by assisting The Lavender Hill Sports and Recreation Foundation and Philisa Abafazi Bethu SA in its mission to feed the youth in their community. Motivated by the initiative, the Sea Harvest Foundation did not hesitate to get involved. In the spirit of love, Sea Harvest took it one step further and challenged their favourite freezer friend, McCain, to “chip in”.

The union culminated just a few days later with Sea Harvest Foundation and McCain #givingtogether 1.3 tonnes in frozen food products to the Lavender Hill community.

“A big thank you and much appreciation to Sea Harvest and McCain who have become “Friends In Your Freezer” for the approximate 2,000 kids they helped feed in Lavender Hill. McCain, thank you veggy veggy much. Sea Harvest, you got us hook, line, and sinker. Till nets time!” – Lester Kiewit tweeted.

Mark Nicholson, the founder of the Lavender Hill Sports and Recreation Foundation, says, “I am so very grateful. The kids normally just have soup, so for them to have a tasty meal makes a world of difference. To see the look on the kids’ faces was honestly unbelievable. You could see the excitement in their eyes and how thankful they were. Between me and the kids, there were even tears. I usually go to social media to ask for donations but this came knocking on our door

and we couldn’t be more thankful. Thank you to Lester, Sea Harvest and McCain for making these kids’ day. It is proof that we can all make a difference.”

Lucinda Evans, Head of Philisa Abafazi Bethu SA says, “When the truck arrived on Friday, I was ecstatic. It takes a lot for me to feel like a five-year-old child and that is exactly what this donation did. Receiving fish fingers and chips as a meal on Friday, just lit up the faces of everyone who received a meal. Because of COVID-19, food security has been so difficult to achieve, so donations like these mean the absolute world to us and I don’t think many people realise the joy that these donations bring. Thank you to Lester, Sea Harvest and McCain for their donation. The feeling we are all experiencing now is indescribable”.

Although a drop in the ocean when measured against the plight of children living in poverty and hunger in South Africa, being involved in this act that saw over 2,000 kids in Lavender Hill receive a healthy meal in just a matter of days, was a rewarding and fulfilling experience that speaks to both Sea Harvest and McCain’s dedication to not only be the #FriendsinYourFreezer, but to be a friend to all South African’s in their most vulnerable times.

See how this love story unfolded here.

Visit the Lavender Hill Sports and Recreation Foundation website or the Philisa Abafazi Bethu SA website to learn more about how you can get involved and make a difference to the Lavender Hill Community.