CAPE TOWN - Almost 85 employees at the Ford Motor Company South Africa's Silverton assembly plant have joined forces to assist frontline essential services workers by producing and donating protective face shields.
To date, almost 190 000 face shields have been produced and donated to hospitals, clinics and NGOs around the country, and delivered to the Department of Health's central warehouse and distribution facility in Centurion.
This has been possible through contributions totalling almost R3-million from FMCSA, Ford dealers, Absa Group and Ford's suppliers and business partners. Ford is self-funding the cost of producing and packaging the face shields, and several suppliers are assisting with providing packaging materials and transport.
Ford production manager, Johann Botha said : "It is a life-changing experience to be part of the team of employees that learn together while taking on a challenge unknown to all of us."
Ford employee Bruno Molatsane said he was proud to be associated with the project. "It gives me great pleasure to be part of this, seeing the company I work for aid our frontline fighters with the face shields we are making. This is the true definition of 'heroes without capes," said Molatsane.
How can you help?
Donations to support the production and donation of face shields are welcomed from individuals and businesses. Any donations, big or small, will help protect our valued medical and essential services personnel and limit the spread of COVID-19 to those most at risk.
Ford has partnered with the Gift of the Givers Foundation, which has kindly provided the banking facility for all donations, which can be made as follows:
Account Name: Gift of the Givers
Institution:
Standard Bank
Branch:
Pietermaritzburg
Account number: 052137228
Branch Code: 057525
Deposit Reference: Ford
Any queries regarding making donations can be e-mailed to: [email protected], using the reference:
Ford SA COVID-19.
CORONAVIRUS MONITOR