Reaching the big 60 is a milestone for anyone, but a local woman wanted to make her birthday even more special by giving rather than receiving.
Seeing the need for school basics in Heinz Park, Roellien Johnson requested the help of friends, family and the community to collect school shoes to donate to children who frequent the For the Love of the Kids feeding scheme in Heinz Park.
As a resident passionate about community upliftment, Johnson frequently assists with the feeding scheme founded by Phillepin Andrews.
Johnson shares she decided on school shoes because she saw the state in which some of the kids’ shoes were when they went to drop stuff off at the feeding scheme.
“The kids are really struggling with clothing and food. Sometimes the only food that they get is the meals at the feeding scheme,” says Johnson.
She says she is grateful to have celebrated her 60th birthday because, in 2018, she was in the hospital for three weeks.
“We thought that I would not make it, but the Lord came through for me. My hearing was completely healed and I’m still busy with community work.”
With her birthday celebrated in November, a total of 12 pairs of school shoes were collected and distributed.
The handover took place on Freedom Day, Wednesday 27 April.
Together with her partner, Adam van Wyk, Johnson is still collecting clothes, books and shoes which are sold at rummage sales to raise funds. Both of them are also active in crime-fighting and community work in their areas.
Last year, they also collected and donated clothing to a community worker in Rocklands to distribute to residents in need.
“I plan to do a project for my birthday every year where I can donate to school kids who are in dire need,” she says.
