Benoni Van Ryn Rotary gets help from a boy and his dog … in Canada!

To assist the Rotary Club of Benoni Van Ryn feed hungry families, Canadian resident Jonathan Bath (14) raised R15 850 by walking his dog, Amber, half a kilometre for every $10 (about R122) sponsored to him.

The grandson of former president of the club, Robin Bath, Jonathan said he thought it would be a good idea to assist those in need in South Africa.

The club added R12 120 in donations and is providing 17 households with Covid-19 relief packs every week, which collectively feed about 120 people.

Fani Mnisi, from Kids Haven, and Grace Mabelane, from God Knows, have been entrusted to select the families as they work intimately and extensively in their communities.

Former president and now treasurer of the Rotary Club of Benoni Van Ryn Charmaine Cole-Niven said the budget for these packs is about R85 per pack, making the total cost about R1 5 00 per week.

“We’ve been very grateful to have enough funds to provide these packs for the past 12 weeks and at present we have sufficient funds to go for another five weeks. Jonathan is still walking and his Interact Club in Canada has committed a further R6 000, which we will use to extend the length of our project,” Cole-Niven said.

The pack menu varies depending on what is available and affordable.

Cole-Niven added: “We are blessed to have benefactors who have provided us with items of food and clothing, including Lego, who donated their learning through play six-brick packs, including a booklet on how to use it for educational purposes. These were received with great excitement. We would especially like to thank the Vegetarium, in Western Extension, for providing us with fresh vegetables every week at minimal cost.”

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