IN line with its corporate social responsibility policy, Shoprite, the leading supermarket chain across Africa with a growing presence in Nigeria , has extended its ‘Help-Change-a-Life” initiative in the month of February by donating a total sum of four hundred and sixty eight thousand, three hundred and thirteen Naira (N468, 313).
The donation originates from both Shoprite Lekki and Shoprite Adeniran Ogunsanya outlets. The cheques were handed over to representatives from Hearts of Gold Hospice Orphanage, which received N224, 298 and The Living Fountain orphanage, which received N244, 015.
The Help-Change-a-Life initiative is Shoprite and its customers’ way of contributing and giving back to the community in which it operates. Shoprite provides a platform for its customers to contribute to the needs of the greater community by simply collecting change from any of its willing customers. The initial response has been overwhelming – proving once again that customers are happy to join Shoprite in supporting the plight of those less fortunate.
It would be recalled that in November 2010, Shoprite chose two deserving charity institutions to benefit from the proceeds of the collections at their Lekki and Adeniran branches. The first contribution emanated from the Adeniran branch, which amounted to a donation of N108, 513. It went to The Orphan Youths Group of Nigeria in conjunction with Kiddies Talent Hunt, an NGO that is concerned with the creation of a platform where orphaned youths are tutored and encouraged to unearth the hidden talents within them.  The Lekki branch also handed over the sum of N187, 750 to the Nigerian Red Cross Society’s Motherless Babies Home in the Adekunle area of Yaba, Lagos .
While receiving the donation from Shoprite management, Lady Bethel Obieri, founder of the orphanage expressed gratitude to Shoprite and encourage Nigerians and non-Nigerians to patronage their goods.
“We are grateful to your company”, she said adding that “it is very difficult if not impossible to see organisations in your line of business coming out to support the less privileged in the society. Your effort will go a long way to encourage some of us to continue in this humanitarian service.”
Children who witnessed the presentation ceremony at the Lekki office of the company showed their appreciation with a beautiful rendition to the brand, staff and management team of the company.
Speaking to our reporter during the presentation ceremony Godfrey Odamah, Shoprite Branch Manager at the Lekki store, said “We thought we should continue our involvement in supporting the community and by being a part of community development, we are actually fulfilling our own social responsibility.”
The choice for the institution was borne out of merit and outstanding dedication to the cause of salvaging the plight of the less privileged, which coincides with Shoprite’s own commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility.
Shoprite places ‘Help-Change-a-Life” boxes strategically in its branches and customers who are willing to touch a life, drop in their own contribution. It is counted at the end of the month with Shoprite also adding its own contribution before handing it over to the identified institutions.