Dispatch readers donate to less fortunate

Written by Lois Moodley

Daily Dispatch readers have again reached out to the less privileged. Touched by last week’s article on the opening of a creche in an informal settlement in Stoney Drift, young Gia Ferrucci, 5, and her sister Mila, 2, decided to donate their old toys to the less privileged children.

Gia, who turned five yesterday, celebrated her birthday by boxing up her old toys and handing them over to Irene Erasmus, who has been working with the less privileged community in Amalinda.

Erasmus was impressed by the generous donation, saying she was surprised to have received a bakkie load of toys from the sisters.

“Some of these toys are worth R300. Not so long ago these kids were playing in the dirt with stones. It means a lot to them and they take good care of their toys,” said Erasmus.

One of the children from the community, seven-year-old Sibongiseni Bambethe, said he never had toys before.

“I am very happy playing with my phone because I never had anything to play with before,” the little boy told the Dispatch, while talking into his toy phone.

The Dispatch first wrote about Erasmus and her work in Stoney Drift earlier this year when she had started ministering to the community with weekly services and a soup kitchen.

Noticing a need for on-going support, Erasmus began a vegetable garden that was taken over by Sabelo Veleko, a member of the community.

At the time, Erasmus expressed a desire to open a creche in Stoney Drift to prepare the younger ones for school. The Stoney Drift creche held its first classes on Monday under the instruction of Chumisa Mtimkulu, a resident of the informal settlement.

Since the initial story, Dispatch readers pledged their support by providing close to 200 jackets and 150 blankets for the bitter winter weather. But the generosity of readers continues.

The Stoney Drift community received additional boxes of clothing for children from another reader touched by Erasmus’ work.

Mercia Klose, of Epikanini Promotions, donated 280 long sleeved sweaters, 30 scarves and 30 beanies, saying it was part of her social responsibility to help.

“Every time I see a bargain from one of my suppliers, I buy in bulk and look for charities I can support, and I saw Irene Erasmus’ story and I thought I could help,” she said.

Erasmus, who remains committed to the project, once again stressed that it was God’s will and added that the success of the project was made possible by Dispatch readers as well as sponsors such as Transtruct building contractors, who put in an R11000 concrete floor.

(This story is courtesy of The Dispatch. Used with permission.)