The feeding scheme has assisted struggling occupants of 156 government-owned units located between Dick Burton Street and Victoria Road in Southfield since September 2020.
Along with celebrating the festive season with family and friends one is also reminded of a moral obligation to spread some Christmas joy to those in need, and a private feeding scheme in Southfield offers a chance to do just that, thanks to Beverley Strong.
“We are an NPO operating from my home at 33 Coombe Road, Plumstead and we have been providing meals and support to our community for the past three years. We are planning a Christmas event for Saturday 16 December and need contributions from the public to make this happen,” says Strong.
The feeding scheme has assisted struggling occupants of 156 government-owned units located between Dick Burton Street and Victoria Road in Southfield since September 2020 (“Fears mount as offerings dry up”, People’s Post, 3 November 2020).
Strong, who is the deputy chair of the Naruna Estate Residents’ Association (Nera) in Plumstead, says “the majority of our seniors are Sassa recipients and really struggle to make it through the month. We also have many single parent families where unemployment is the norm, so it is a challenge for these people to put food on the table.”
In remission from colon cancer, Strong also fosters her two grandchildren. She says although money is tight, she and her husband, who receives a disability grant, are doing what they can to help the needy.
Most of the children do not get to experience any sort of Christmas as their parents simply cannot afford anything other than basic food, “so Back-to-School is a huge challenge”.
For the last three years, they have managed to put together a special meal and gifts for them.
“But this year we have decided to ask for items of school stationery or clothing instead of toys. We have a pledge from a local pizza outlet for pizza pies and cooldrink and we will be making popcorn so they do have some treats.” For the seniors, they wish to gift them with a basic food and toiletry goodie bag if possible.
Strong, along with her fellow helpers, serve 50 seniors and 53 children (between the ages of three and 16-years-old) as well as two babies. “One baby is just one-month-old and the other is two-years-old.”
She says they hand out sandwiches every Thursday evening along with a cooked meal on Sundays. “I always have people coming to my gate asking for help with bread, toiletries etc. So, it is not just a twice weekly thing but an everyday challenge.”
Call or WhatsApp Strong on 074 341 8252 to answer the call to bless others with more reasons to celebrate this December.
