The embattled Haven Wellness Centre in Parkridge East London received a little cheer yesterday thanks to the East London department of correctional services.
Staff from the department and a bakkie full of offenders braved the rain yesterday to do their bit for “67 minutes” by handing out new wheelchairs and serving soup to the centre’s patients and children.
In addition, groceries to the value of R1400 were handed over while department spokesman Zama Feni said they had reached agreement with Nedbank East London to donate 50 blankets to the centre, to be delivered later this week.
Eight of the nine wheel-chairs were given to physically disabled individuals from various East London communities, including Mdantsane, Kwelera and Scenery Park.
Correctional services area commissioner, director Mamo-kete Mogorosi said the department’s social workers had identified the individuals.
Eurina Stowman, who started the centre in 2005, said they appreciated the gesture.
She said they faced constant financial strain because, excluding the day-to-day costs of running the centre, the feeding scheme alone could cost more than R20000.
The centre’s chairman Simon Rensburg said any assistance was always welcome.
“We serve three meals a day to more than 300 children, including patients who live at the centre.”
Wheelchair recipient Ayanda Komani said he was happy to get a new wheelchair but joked he was sceptical of how well it would work because of all the “fancy finishes”.
lIn the spirit of Mandela Month the Alexandria SAPS and local business community treated nearly 200 destitute Alexandria residents to food parcels and gave away brand new beds to two families on Monday.
Constable Vuyani Ndzaba and Constable Andiswa Mogo-rosi decided to do something about the abject poverty they witnessed when conducting day-to-day policing in their area as part of the contribution to “67 minutes” and embarked on their project by approaching local business people for assistance.
The donors also announced that school uniforms including socks and shoes would be given to 25 families with children in five different farm schools in the area. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
New wheels for disabled residents
Staff from the department and a bakkie full of offenders braved the rain yesterday to do their bit for “67 minutes” by handing out new wheelchairs and serving soup to the centre’s patients and children.
In addition, groceries to the value of R1400 were handed over while department spokesman Zama Feni said they had reached agreement with Nedbank East London to donate 50 blankets to the centre, to be delivered later this week.
Eight of the nine wheel-chairs were given to physically disabled individuals from various East London communities, including Mdantsane, Kwelera and Scenery Park.
Correctional services area commissioner, director Mamo-kete Mogorosi said the department’s social workers had identified the individuals.
Eurina Stowman, who started the centre in 2005, said they appreciated the gesture.
She said they faced constant financial strain because, excluding the day-to-day costs of running the centre, the feeding scheme alone could cost more than R20000.
The centre’s chairman Simon Rensburg said any assistance was always welcome.
“We serve three meals a day to more than 300 children, including patients who live at the centre.”
Wheelchair recipient Ayanda Komani said he was happy to get a new wheelchair but joked he was sceptical of how well it would work because of all the “fancy finishes”.
lIn the spirit of Mandela Month the Alexandria SAPS and local business community treated nearly 200 destitute Alexandria residents to food parcels and gave away brand new beds to two families on Monday.
Constable Vuyani Ndzaba and Constable Andiswa Mogo-rosi decided to do something about the abject poverty they witnessed when conducting day-to-day policing in their area as part of the contribution to “67 minutes” and embarked on their project by approaching local business people for assistance.
The donors also announced that school uniforms including socks and shoes would be given to 25 families with children in five different farm schools in the area. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos