Do your bit to help NPO in Ekurhuleni

Operation Antifreeze is an NPO that has been making a difference in the community for the last 22 years by reaching out to those less fortunate and in need of assistance, particularly children.

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“We provide food parcels to 650 underprivileged school children every month.

“These children have been identified by their teachers as children who come from very poor homes and are in dire need of assistance,” said Hilary Carhart, the organisation’s project coordinator and fundraiser.

“For many of these children, the sandwich that they receive from their school is their only meal for the day and some do not eat from the Friday when they leave school until they receive their lunch again on Monday.

“The food parcels we provide ensure that these children have something to eat over the weekends.”

Carhart said that the organisation also assists with an afterschool feeding scheme.

“Through the scheme, 50 children receive lunch three times a week. A number of families, where the parents are either unemployed or are earning too little to survive on, are also helped,” explained Carhart.

“At the beginning of every year, we aim to give each child a stationery pack to ensure that they have what they need for a good start to their school year.

In winter we provide blankets, beanies and scarves and at the end of the year, we give the children a Christmas hamper.

“The hamper is a more substantial food parcel which ensures that the children have something to eat during the holidays. We also collect and distribute clothing and household items.”

Carhart added that they (the organisation) don’t receive any government funding and rely completely on donations and the kindness of community members to make it possible for them to continue to fight hunger and feed hope.

“Due to the effects of Covid-19 and the lockdown, we lost our monthly donor and as times have gotten harder for everyone. Donations from individuals have also been dwindling,” shared Carhart.

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“Due to the state of the economy, more and more people are struggling to survive and the need for food parcels and assistance from organisations such as ourselves is needed more now than ever before.

“With the increasing need for help, we are in desperate need of assistance to continue operating.

“We need donations of nonperishable foods, clothing and money to buy food and packaging for the food parcels and to cover our operating expenses.

“Even though we are a charity, we have the same operating expenses as any other business, we have to pay for rent, telephone, insurance, fuel and salaries.

“We are also in need of a vehicle and a driver to deliver the food parcels and collect donations.

“We are BEE level 1, are a registered public benefit organisation and can issue tax-deductible 18A donation receipts.

“If you would like to assist us with any kind of donations or have children who need community service hours and would like to assist with packing food parcels please contact myself (Hilary) at hilary@operationantifreeze.org.za or on 072 959 7242.”