'We shall not rest until we feed as many families as physically and financially possible' - Siya Kolisi

South Africa’s Rugby World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi has been reaching out to vulnerable families during the Covid-19 pandemic in a variety of ways.

Through the work of the Kolisi Foundation, alongside the Imbumba Foundation and Nelson Mandela Foundation, 500 food parcels have been distributed this past week in Zwide, the township in Port Elizabeth the Springbok grew up in.

The 28-year-old took to Instagram to show what he, his wife Rachel, and their team have been doing, also sharing photos of them in protective wear with the food. This is what he said:

“We shall not rest until we feed as many families as physically and financially possible. No one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.”

View this post on Instagram

One by One we are reaching vulnerable families through the work of @kolisi_foundation partnering with @imbumbafoundation @oldmutualsa @anglo_gold and @nelsonmandelafoundationsa . This past weekend we were able to distribute 500 essential food parcels to families in Zwide via @ubuntupathways . We shall not rest until we feed as many families as physically and financially possible. No one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.

A post shared by Siya Kolisi (@siya_kolisi_the_bear) on Apr 22, 2020 at 3:56am PDT

Kolisi launched the foundation in response to the current coronavirus crisis, whereby he has so far delivered 1000 respiratory masks and 1000 litres of hand sanitizer to the Khayelitsha Hospital and the Eerste River Hospital in Cape Town, and the Livingstone Tertiary Hospital in Port Elizabeth.

The foundation has also made donations to PinkDrive, which “provides mobile screening vehicles and medical staff to assist with the call for the roll out of mass testing.”

This is now part of the ‘Each One, Feed One’ campaign, in which the foundation said that it was “committed to making sure as many people as possible are equipped,” on its Instagram page.

View this post on Instagram

Yesterday was the launch of the “each one, feed one” campaign in partnership with the Imbumba Foundation and Nelson Mandela Foundation. We did our first drop of 500 food parcels in Zwide township, Port Elizabeth – Siya’s home town. This is a difficult time for many people, and we are committed to making sure as many people as possible are equipped. If you would like to make a donation or would like to come on board as a partner please see the landing page link in our bio. Thank you to @nandossa @oldmutualsa @imbumbafoundation @anglo_gold @ubuntupathways @nelsonmandelafoundationsa #KolisiFoundation #OnebyOne #each1feed1

A post shared by Kolisi Foundation (@kolisi_foundation) on Apr 19, 2020 at 3:03am PDT

Kolisi was planning on launching the foundation later this year, but such are the dire circumstances South Africa, and indeed the rest of the world, finds itself under at this moment in time that he set the organisation in motion earlier than expected to help out.

The Stormers and Springboks flanker is not the only person from the rugby world to help during the crisis, but he is putting his new-found status as a global sportstar to good use.