Salvation Army forced to close its gates
Major Jeffrey Stafford, of the facility, said they had to make the tough decision to stop the feeding schemes on March 25.
Prayers may never have been as intense as they currently are at The Salvation Army Benoni, as the centre has been forced to close its doors and stop its street feeding schemes to adhere to the Covid-19 lockdown.
They are still feeding and caring for 50 residents at the premises on the corner of Howard Avenue and Turvey Street, he added, but had no choice but to close their gates to others in need for now.
The centre relies heavily on donations to be able to feed its residents and the homeless, but these have dried up.
“We live hand-to-mouth at the centre and are really struggling to make ends meet,” he said.
“There are currently 50 residents at our premises – homeless people and indigent pensioners – and while we still feed them our centre was shut on March 26, after the president’s declaration of a lockdown.”
Stafford said they can still accept donations through the gate, and these will be welcomed with open arms.
These are the most pressing needs at the Salvation Army:
• Soup ingredients, mainly vegetables and soup bones
• Bread/bread rolls
• Non-perishable and perishable foods
• Soya products
• Spreads for bread
• Toiletries.
Anyone who would like to donate can pre-arrange delivery by phoning Stafford on 073 464 7971 or visit The Salvation Army at any time between 6am and 6pm daily (there is always someone on duty at the gate).
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Despite the hardships the shelter is facing, Stafford said the residents are in good spirits and grateful for the privilege of having food and shelter at this time.
He explained that their charity shops, in Rothsay Street, which can bring in as much as R30 000 a month, are also closed, as is the crèche they run from their premises, but staff at the crèche still need to be paid.
“We have to prepare for whatever eventuality may come our way.
“As an officer, I will be available throughout the lockdown time as will assistant centre manager Antonette Grobler.
“We urge the community to still bring donations to the gate so that we can and continue to do what we can to serve our community.”
Stafford said while he understands that the feeding scheme being stopped means many of the homeless don’t get food at this time, he is hopeful that the Ekurhuleni metro and Department of Social Development will make a facility available for Benoni’s homeless soon.
When the City Times spoke to him on Monday morning he said he had heard something was imminent, and welcomed news which would confirm this.
“At least we can assist at this shelter, otherwise we are going to have to strongly urge the metro to set up some other place for us to feed the homeless in a safe, controlled environment,” said Stafford.
“We are praying very hard something will be put in place very soon.”
The Ekurhuleni metro referred the City Times to a press statement issued on March 26 which stated the Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Panyaza Lesufi, would oversee the process of relocation of the homeless to shelters for the lockdown period.
No further comment regarding Benoni’s homeless or a facility opening up for them was offered.
EMPD spokesperson Kobeli Mokheseng said that, during the lockdown period, if their officers find people on the street who should be in government homeless facilities they notify the nearest police station or transport them to the police station.
Residents can make donations to the The Salvation Army Benoni’s account:
• Bank: FNB
• Branch code: 251742
• Account number: 5113 274 8167
For more information, contact The Salvation Army on 011 422 4418.
