Community members are encouraged to give where they can this Mandela Month to alleviate the financial pressure and stress caused by the continued lockdown.
To help organisations in need and honour Mandela Day (July 18) the NEWS will encourage community members, throughout July, to assist organisations and charities in its distribution area.
Edenvale Care Centre Hospice is one such organisation which has felt the strain caused by lockdown.
The centre caters for patients with end-stage renal and cardiac failure, hypertension, strokes, diabetes one and two, cancer, HIV/Aids, TB and multi-drug resistant TB.
Administrator and fund-raiser of the centre Marlene Hooper said the number of donations received since lockdown started decreasing.
She said community members who regularly donated continue to do so, but reduced their amounts.
“The most significant drop in donations were the ones from businesses.
“Things are not good and the economy is doing bad at the moment so everyone is being affected, but we are trying to raise funds where we can.”
Although the lockdown has changed some of the centre’s donation needs the centre’s needs have largely remained the same.
“Dischem has been assisting us financially, which is used to cover the costs of linen savers, nappies and hand sanitiser.”
Priority donations include Vaseline, Savlon, toilet spray, roller towels, toilet rolls, disinfecting hand soap, sanitiser, refuse and freezer bags.
Food items needed include non-perishable groceries, fresh vegetables, meat such as mince, chicken and stewing beef.
