GALLERY: Broken Wings desperate for funds to keep flying

A home to the mentally and physically handicapped people is faced with a financial crisis and appeals for help in order to continue providing its services.

August 13, 2019

Simphiwe Malunga 2 minutes read

A HOME for the mentally and physically handicapped is facing a financial crisis.

Now more than ever, and after 21 years of service, Broken Wings Association for Adults with Disabilities needs the community’s help to keep its doors open.

The NPO has tried every avenue to make ends meet to maintain its facility and services throughout the years.

Cutting costs

To try cutting costs, Broken Wings recently sold its bus and the money was used to cover a few of its expenses.

Unfortunately, the decision also left a 72-year-old pensioner jobless after being a driver for 11 years.

The decision was taken by the committee after experiencing endless costs associated with maintaining the bus.

In the past 18 months Broken Wings spent about R90 000 on repairing the bus. It also cost them R12 000 monthly to keep the bus operating.

However, without a bus service, about 10 people have been adversely affected and are currently not able to use the services Broken Wings offers as they relied on the bus for transportation.

The bus would pick them up from their homes and take them to Broken Wing, where they were fed and were kept busy with arts and crafts and other stimulating activities throughout the day.

Services offered

Broken Wings is the only day-care centre in the Alberton community that caters for adults with disabilities.

Most of the individuals who attend the day care are from low-income families, with a few of them supporting their whole families from the social grants they receive.

They cater for the disabled from areas such as Alberton, Eden Park, Greenfield, Palmridge, Brackendowns, Brackenhurst, Thokoza, Mayberry Park and Meyersdal.

The NPO is a day care to 28 adults who are mentally and physically challenged, from 16 years and older.

Broken Wings provides two meals per day, a properly prepared breakfast and lunch.

Broken Wings offers stimulating activities to its clients, such as beading, painting and artwork, they can engage in instead of just sitting at home.

To try and raise funds, the disabled are taught crafts and artwork which is then sold to the community.

Expenses and needs

Broken Wings needs R50 000 a month in total to keep its day-care facility running.

Sheryl Swanepoel, a fund-raiser at Broken Wings, commented: “We have salaries to pay, food to be bought, water and lights, cleaning materials and insurance costs.

“Employees at the NPO once paid salaries from their own pocket.

“We still have an outstanding diesel account of R10 000 and our plea to the community is that they help us keep our doors open,” she said.

Swanepoel added that they would like to stay open and help as many adults with disabilities as they possible could.

“We also need volunteers who are willing to spend an hour or two in helping out in any way possible.

“They could help with sewing, baking and other activities. We also want to get the rest of the individuals who are now not able to reach the facility back at the day care.