Image: Kyra Welch
Beloved comedian Marc Lottering was one of thousands of volunteers filling up the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on 17 July 2026 for the Mandela Day weekend, giving 67 minutes at Ladles of Love’s Hands-On Heroes event.
Accompanied by his husband, Anwar McKay, Lottering prepared wholesome peanut butter and jam sandwiches for 20,000 preschool children in under-resourced communities.
Also see: Marc Lottering and Anwar McKay survive Tropical Cyclone Gezani in Mozambique
Why ‘giving back’ is a problematic term for Marc Lottering
While speaking to BONA, the stand-up comedian noted that he has a problem with the phrase ‘giving back,’ feeling that it has been overused by influencers and content creators online.
“It’s not just about giving back; it’s about giving. That’s our purpose on this planet. With that foremost in my mind, I’m trying in everything I do to give. That’s why this initiative today, bringing everyone together, I think, is fantastic.”
Providing meals with a smile
Volunteers, who paid R300 to participate (which aims to help a child with two healthy meals a day for a month), had the option to join the Make, Create, Craft and Grow zones. Their helpful hands could either make sandwiches, pack nutrition boxes, create early learning materials, make teaching aids or plant vegetable boxes with seeds.
Lottering, in the red Make zone, humorously shared, “I’m not skilled in anything else. I’m very good in the kitchen,” adding, “I’m focusing on the fact that with every sandwich I’m putting into this bag, I’m thinking about a hungry child.
“Doing this is not just about bread. I’m thinking about the individual behind it; the recipient.”
Also see: Marc Lottering, Springboks and Dricus du Plessis fly SA flag in Australia
Danny Diliberto, the founder of Ladles of Love, said the event embodied what Nelson Mandela stood for: “Ordinary people taking responsibility for making their communities better places.”
He added, “At Ladles of Love, we see that spirit every day because our volunteers show up every day. But Mandela Day gives the whole country an opportunity to step in and make a difference.”
The focus now shifts to Johannesburg, where Ladles of Love is calling on residents, companies, schools, clubs, faith groups and families to book for the next Hands-On Heroes event on Wednesday, 22 July 2026.
Also see: Comedic giant Marc Lottering honoured with Hall of Fame award
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