The livelihood of 263 staff members and 300 residents at Little Eden hangs in the balance.
The organisation is facing a financial crisis which can be attributed to various factors, including a back-payment from the Department of Health.
The Department of Health recently announced, without warning, that with immediate effect, subsidy payments would be made one month in arrears.
The department pays Little Eden R900 000 per month in subsidies.
The postal strike has also had an effect on fundraising efforts for Little Eden as some of the planned direct mail campaigns were postponed indefinitely until the situation is resolved.
To add to the woes which Little Eden and many other charity organisations in the area face, funding from the National Lottery has not materialised.
For the past two years there has been no call for application for further funding from the lottery.
In addition, many donors have been affected by the current economic climate which has resulted in individuals reducing their usual donations while some have stopped giving altogether.
“I call on our generous local communities for financial aid during this crisis we are facing. We are hopeful that we will once again receive an overwhelming response from concerned members of the public, friends and well-wishers of the society, as we did two and a half years ago when government did not pay our subsidies for four months,” said Mrs Lucy Slaviero, the executive officer of Little Eden.
“These are uncertain times where Little Eden, the only home many of our residents will ever know, is being threatened, as well as the very livelihood of our 263 staff members,” she added.
Little Eden cares for children and adults with profound intellectual disability.
The society offers these residents security, protection and care.
“With the support of our friends and benefactors, we look forward to continue serving the community by providing a caring environment for persons with intellectual disabilities under our umbrella and core values of respect, sanctity of life and love and care,” Mrs Slaviero said.
For more information, contact Nichollette Muthige or Lucy Slaviero on 011 609-7246 or visit www.littleeden.org.za
