Angelic Candice Woodbridge entertains and inspires abused and abandoned children through her Angel Outreach organisation, which encourages groups and individuals to spend time at a safe house at least once a year.
Woodbridge, 33, a mother of two, founded Angel Outreach, which appeals to members of the community through social media to offer at least one Saturday a year to children who are less fortunate.
Angel Outreach aims to expand networking to establish a larger team of volunteers who can reach out to more institutions every Saturday, spreading cheer to children in safe houses.
On Saturday, Kings Children’s Home and Daily Bread were treated to visits facilitated by Angel Outreach.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch at Daily Bread just outside the airport, where 58 children from around the province aged from three to 18 are placed and cared for by six caregivers, Woodbridge said it was all about making a difference to the children’s lives and relieving caregivers for a few hours.
“Spending time with the children creates so much excitement among them. They are happy to see new faces and all we want to do is make them happy because they don’t have transport to go anywhere. That’s why we want more people to come to them on a Saturday.”
Woodbridge, a financial planner at Halcyon Financial Solutions, and her colleagues spent the morning entertaining the children while also preparing the breakfast, tea, lunch and snacks they had brought.
Colleague Adele Foster said Woodbridge had initiated an amazing project and changed the lives of many children through the work she was doing.
“I am so proud of her. I don’t know where she finds the time but she makes it work. We share in her vision and encourage other corporate companies to make contact with her and see how they can make a difference.”
Due to minimal volunteers, the outreach alternates groups which visit three homes around East London although organisers hope to have enough volunteers to visit every home in East London every week in the future.
“That is our ultimate goal, but for now we make sure that at least the three homes we have adopted are visited at least once a month,” Woodbridge said.
Faith Seti, a caregiver at Daily Bread for 19 years, said the children looked forward to visits from the community.
“Candice has been a blessing to us because every month she gives the children something to look forward to. Every time she comes here she brings us clothes and sweets, and she takes the time to engage with the children, which is priceless.”
Caregiver Sindile Nkinqeni said Woodbridge was a frequent visitor, and some of the children who had grown up in the home and were now working adults also often returned to comfort and inspire the children.
“That’s what makes it so special because she didn’t grow up here or anything like that, but she still holds us very close to her heart. We know it and we very much appreciate it.”
To become an Angel and offer your Saturday morning, or donate clothes or food, call Angel Outreach on 0738970598 or e-mail angelnetworkel@gmail.com. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Angel touches kids’ lives
Woodbridge, 33, a mother of two, founded Angel Outreach, which appeals to members of the community through social media to offer at least one Saturday a year to children who are less fortunate.
Angel Outreach aims to expand networking to establish a larger team of volunteers who can reach out to more institutions every Saturday, spreading cheer to children in safe houses.
On Saturday, Kings Children’s Home and Daily Bread were treated to visits facilitated by Angel Outreach.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch at Daily Bread just outside the airport, where 58 children from around the province aged from three to 18 are placed and cared for by six caregivers, Woodbridge said it was all about making a difference to the children’s lives and relieving caregivers for a few hours.
“Spending time with the children creates so much excitement among them. They are happy to see new faces and all we want to do is make them happy because they don’t have transport to go anywhere. That’s why we want more people to come to them on a Saturday.”
Woodbridge, a financial planner at Halcyon Financial Solutions, and her colleagues spent the morning entertaining the children while also preparing the breakfast, tea, lunch and snacks they had brought.
Colleague Adele Foster said Woodbridge had initiated an amazing project and changed the lives of many children through the work she was doing.
“I am so proud of her. I don’t know where she finds the time but she makes it work. We share in her vision and encourage other corporate companies to make contact with her and see how they can make a difference.”
Due to minimal volunteers, the outreach alternates groups which visit three homes around East London although organisers hope to have enough volunteers to visit every home in East London every week in the future.
“That is our ultimate goal, but for now we make sure that at least the three homes we have adopted are visited at least once a month,” Woodbridge said.
Faith Seti, a caregiver at Daily Bread for 19 years, said the children looked forward to visits from the community.
“Candice has been a blessing to us because every month she gives the children something to look forward to. Every time she comes here she brings us clothes and sweets, and she takes the time to engage with the children, which is priceless.”
Caregiver Sindile Nkinqeni said Woodbridge was a frequent visitor, and some of the children who had grown up in the home and were now working adults also often returned to comfort and inspire the children.
“That’s what makes it so special because she didn’t grow up here or anything like that, but she still holds us very close to her heart. We know it and we very much appreciate it.”
To become an Angel and offer your Saturday morning, or donate clothes or food, call Angel Outreach on 0738970598 or e-mail angelnetworkel@gmail.com. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
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