When our Johannesburg Procurement Manager, Janine Levy, travelled to Sydney for a family function, she also spent a day with OzHarvest. For Janine, who oversees surplus food sourcing across Gauteng and manages daily donor relationships, it wasn’t just another work-related stop. It was a chance to see how a sister organisation operates on the other side of the world – and to be reminded that food rescue, no matter where it happens, is driven by the same heart.
A Day of Heart and Hospitality
From the moment she arrived, Janine was welcomed with warmth. Marla made sure everything ran smoothly, Tracy shared her knowledge with openness, and Louise offered insights that stuck with her long after. Gobi’s energy lit up the room, Midi brought laughter, and Steve, one of OzHarvest’s dedicated drivers, reminded her how central people are to making food rescue work.
The national operations team spoke honestly about both challenges and wins, showing that food rescue is as much about resilience as logistics. And then there was Roni – a whirlwind of passion and energy who left Janine feeling inspired long after their conversation ended.
One of the highlights was sharing lunch prepared entirely from rescued food. It was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when surplus is treated with creativity, respect, and purpose.
Roots of Inspiration: From Sydney to South Africa
Alan Browde and Ronni Kahn at SA Harvest Warehouse.
SA Harvest’s story is deeply connected to OzHarvest. Ronni Kahn, the South African-born founder of OzHarvest, grew up in Johannesburg as neighbours with Alan Browde. Their lifelong friendship became the bridge between two continents. When Ronni showed what was possible in Australia – rescuing surplus food and redistributing it with dignity – Alan was inspired to bring the same vision home.
In 2019, SA Harvest was born, adapting OzHarvest’s model to South Africa’s unique realities.
Different Contexts, Same Heart
In Australia, hunger is often about affordability. Families may have jobs and homes, yet the soaring cost of living means they cannot always put food on the table. OzHarvest’s hubs allow people to “shop for free,” restoring dignity and choice.
In South Africa, hunger is driven by inequality and unemployment. Millions go to bed hungry despite abundant harvests. Our work focuses on rescuing surplus food and building logistics networks to reach communities across vast distances.
Different countries, different drivers, but the same heart. Together, OzHarvest and SA Harvest are part of a global food rescue movement, turning surplus into hope, one meal at a time.
Dignity, Choice, and Accessibility
Janine was especially struck by OzHarvest’s community hubs. Instead of pre-packed parcels, beneficiaries choose the products they need. This supermarket-style approach restores agency and respect. Hubs also double as spaces for cooking demonstrations, volunteer engagement, and immediate distribution of bulk donations.
Technology plays a central role too. Drivers record food weights at collection and delivery, with data automatically uploaded to a digital platform. This ensures transparency, efficiency, and frees up staff time.
Shared Spirit, Shared Mission
What struck Janine most was how closely OzHarvest’s spirit mirrors ours at SA Harvest. Different countries, different contexts, yet the same heart: a belief that good food should never go to waste while people go hungry.
Her visit reinforced the power of the global food rescue movement. We are part of something bigger – a community across borders, turning surplus into hope, one rescued meal at a time.