The Christmas dreams posted on the Tree of Joy in Vincent Park are humble requests for simple items such as soccer balls, shoes and groceries and 1500 wishes are being fulfilled, thanks to five Rotary clubs and the generosity of members of the public.
Rotary Tree of Joy co-ordinator Gavin Ferreira said this was the 15th time Christmas presents for indigent elderly and disadvantaged or orphaned children were being collected in this way.
The festive initiative, which is organised by the Arcadia, Bonza Bay, East London, Gonubie and Gately Rotary clubs, has chosen more than 20 charities, each of which has identified people most in need of a gift this Christmas.
Shoppers select wish cards that are pegged onto the tree, buy the present and then return it to the Tree of Joy desk where it is wrapped and tagged with the beneficiary’s name, allowing charities to distribute the gifts ahead of Christmas Day.
If all the wishes are not fulfilled by the public by December 17, Rotarians will step in to buy the outstanding presents so that Santa’s sleigh visits everyone on the list.
“I picked two cards for ladies at Silver Crown old age home who asked for wool and air time,” said Stirling resident Bronwyn Shaw.
“I crochet myself so I understand the need for good wool and I know they will probably knit something for someone else so it is like double helping. People need such simple things and it is such a little sacrifice for me,” Shaw said.
Vuyokazi Sakasa, of Komga, donated a pair of shoes and a packet of chocolates to a 12-year-old girl at Open Arms Children’s Home.
“Rotary helped my daughter with a high school scholarship so in turn I wanted to make a little girl happy for Christmas,” she said.
For Melinda van den Berg of Johannesburg, the Tree of Joy was a new experience.
“It is the first time I’ve seen it and it is such a brilliant concept,” said Van den Berg, who handed over a pretty nightie for gift wrapping. “It is so special doing something for an old lady you don’t know and knowing it will bring a smile to her face on Christmas Day.”
Vincent Park centre manager Joseph Parsley said hosting the annual Tree of Joy was part of the mall’s corporate social responsibility programme.
“We always want to be part of the community in which we function and give back to it. Some of the wishes are as plain as toiletries and my daughter picked a card for a child from CHOC who just wanted a ball to kick. These are ordinary things we take for granted but which others don’t have.”
“You can see on people’s faces how much joy they get from giving,” said Rotarian Angela Woodhall, who was manning the Tree of Joy desk at the weekend.
“A couple of years ago one family said they had stopped giving each other Christmas presents because they don’t need anything and they rather bought gifts at our tree.
“The generosity of East Londoners is something to behold and no matter how tough the year has been – all the doom and gloom – the Tree of Joy gives me faith in humanity,” said Ferreira. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
Simple wishes on Tree of Joy coming true
Rotary Tree of Joy co-ordinator Gavin Ferreira said this was the 15th time Christmas presents for indigent elderly and disadvantaged or orphaned children were being collected in this way.
The festive initiative, which is organised by the Arcadia, Bonza Bay, East London, Gonubie and Gately Rotary clubs, has chosen more than 20 charities, each of which has identified people most in need of a gift this Christmas.
Shoppers select wish cards that are pegged onto the tree, buy the present and then return it to the Tree of Joy desk where it is wrapped and tagged with the beneficiary’s name, allowing charities to distribute the gifts ahead of Christmas Day.
If all the wishes are not fulfilled by the public by December 17, Rotarians will step in to buy the outstanding presents so that Santa’s sleigh visits everyone on the list.
“I picked two cards for ladies at Silver Crown old age home who asked for wool and air time,” said Stirling resident Bronwyn Shaw.
“I crochet myself so I understand the need for good wool and I know they will probably knit something for someone else so it is like double helping. People need such simple things and it is such a little sacrifice for me,” Shaw said.
Vuyokazi Sakasa, of Komga, donated a pair of shoes and a packet of chocolates to a 12-year-old girl at Open Arms Children’s Home.
“Rotary helped my daughter with a high school scholarship so in turn I wanted to make a little girl happy for Christmas,” she said.
For Melinda van den Berg of Johannesburg, the Tree of Joy was a new experience.
“It is the first time I’ve seen it and it is such a brilliant concept,” said Van den Berg, who handed over a pretty nightie for gift wrapping. “It is so special doing something for an old lady you don’t know and knowing it will bring a smile to her face on Christmas Day.”
Vincent Park centre manager Joseph Parsley said hosting the annual Tree of Joy was part of the mall’s corporate social responsibility programme.
“We always want to be part of the community in which we function and give back to it. Some of the wishes are as plain as toiletries and my daughter picked a card for a child from CHOC who just wanted a ball to kick. These are ordinary things we take for granted but which others don’t have.”
“You can see on people’s faces how much joy they get from giving,” said Rotarian Angela Woodhall, who was manning the Tree of Joy desk at the weekend.
“A couple of years ago one family said they had stopped giving each other Christmas presents because they don’t need anything and they rather bought gifts at our tree.
“The generosity of East Londoners is something to behold and no matter how tough the year has been – all the doom and gloom – the Tree of Joy gives me faith in humanity,” said Ferreira. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
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