Dear Tekkie Tax media friends,
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.
For the past few weeks, like most of people in South Africa, I followed the discussions regarding Covid-19 on social media and all I see is panic (with reason).
I am the national campaign manager for Tekkie Tax – a national fundraising campaign for 250 local and national welfare organisations.
The last Friday in May is Tekkie Tax Day.
Through the Tekkie Tax campaign, we assist participating organisations on working towards financial sustainability.
We have a dedicated team that drive this campaign so that welfare organisations can continue to deliver the crucial services to vulnerable persons and animals in their respective communities.
Participating welfare organisations that are beneficiaries of the campaign care for and provide essential and protective services to vulnerable groups like:
• The aged in old age homes and frail care centres,
• Orphaned and vulnerable children in children’s’ homes and places of safety,
• People living with disabilities in care facilities,
• Homeless persons in shelters,
• Homeless and abused animals roaming the streets.
These vulnerable groups are the ones that have nowhere else to go and are often seen as the outcasts in the communities.
There are great awareness campaigns running on limiting the spread of Covid-19.
The reality however remains that abuse will continue, and so will neglect, and misuse which necessitates the vital care and protective services by welfare organisations.
Someone still needs to remove a child from an abusive situation.
Someone still needs to feed a frail granny.
Someone still needs to attend to the physical care of a person living with a disability.
Someone still needs to rescue an animal that are being abused.
Someone still needs to meet the demand for services to those who do not have voices to speak out.
In times of economic challenges, donating to a charity or supporting a cause is the first item on the budget that gets cut.
Sadly, this is the one sector in society that will just keep growing as more and more people and animals will become dependent on services rendered by welfare organisations.
Very few of those welfare organisations are in the position to run income generating projects to sustain themselves as they are tied down by skeleton staff and overwhelming demand for services.
Staff and volunteers at welfare organisations are once again the glue that keeps society together – they are the real unsung heroes.
What is the impact of Covid-19 on the Tekkie Tax campaign so far?
1. We had to cancel the import of 50 per cent of our shoelaces which is one of the major streams of income for the campaign. We are already -40 per cent on the projected income for the 2020 campaign.
2. Although our T-shirts are locally made, the raw material was imported before the outbreak of Covid-19. The suppliers are now running out of raw material for the shirts and we will not risk any further imports.
3. Schools are one of the greatest supports to participating NGOs and they are closing down now for a long period of time.
4. Retail outlets are hesitant to make the Tekkie Tax stickers available as they are unsure about the immediate future plans.
Please visit our website at www.tekkietax.org and help us keep the vital services of 250 welfare organisations going by buying your sticker, badge, shoelaces and T-shirt. You can also follow the link to DONATE – DONATE NOW!
Germa Hattingh
National Campaign Manager
