Isandovale couple passionate about helping others
“When children receive a gift, they are so grateful. Community members shouldn’t worry if they aren’t the best tailors or toymakers.”
Following the NEWS’ interview with the Edenvale Lioness Club, we met with two of the club’s helpers who continually assist by donating toys and clothes to those in need.
The Lionesses appealed to the community for greater support of its initiatives in the April 14 edition of the NEWS, Support a cause to help the needy.
Isandovale residents Terry (82) and Pat (81) Bright, who recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, are loyal supporters of the work the Lionesses do and donate handmade wooden toys and baby clothes to the club.
“I found it so admirable that there was a group of women in Edenvale addressing the issues in our community,” said Pat.
The couple explained that they started helping after learning about the Lioness’ annual Toy for Joy competition in the NEWS several years ago.
“I started making these large toys, such as rocking horses and dolly cots, and won first place for a couple of years,” said Terry.
“When I entered for the fourth year, I told the Lionesses that I was donating the toy to the children but I wasn’t entering the competition.”
A smiling Terry, who is a qualified carpenter and joiner, said all entrants compete against each other and he wanted somebody else to win the competition.
But the couple’s involvement did not end with the competition as they continually donate handmade toys and clothes to the Lionesses from donations received from friends, neighbours and the club itself.
Pat said the Lionesses drop off the material for baby clothes and she makes pants, beanies, tops and onesies for the children.
Terry, on the other hand, receives the off-cuts of wood from community members and friends.
The size and type of wood Terry receive determines what toys he will create.
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“Often, I make whatever I feel like making. All of the ideas come out of my head. All that matters is the smile on the child’s face,” said Pat
Two of the couple’s fondest memories is when they were told how their donated toys were being used.
“Terry made and donated a bathing station for a doll and it was donated to a clinic in Germiston; however, the clinic was caring for a lot of undersized abandoned babies at the time,” said Pat
“The Anglican priest used the bathing station to show the other children how to bath the babies.”
Pat said another example was when she and Terry were shown a photograph of one of Terry’s donated rocking horses at a Germiston creche.
“There was a child on the rocking horse and a queue of about 10 children all waiting their turn patiently,” said Pat.
She said besides making the items for the Lioness Club and bringing joy to children, working on the projects helped the couple stay busy during the lockdown.
“We haven’t got a business to keep ourselves busy so we often commit ourselves to the work we do for the Lionesses.
“For us, it’s a way to keep busy and take our mind off all the negative aspects of the pandemic and what SA is going through at the moment.”
Advising those who may want to help the Lioness Club similarly, Pat encouraged community members to just start helping.
“When children receive a gift, they are so grateful. Community members shouldn’t worry if they aren’t the best tailors or toymakers.”
Contact president of the Lioness Club Margaret van Wyk on 072 642 7771 or Shelly Sherwood on 083 309 7089 to learn more about it or how you can help one of their initiatives.
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