Kids Haven is still open to abused children during the lockdown
Kids Haven has allocated one house at the village to receive any new children at this time so that they live separately from the other children for a period of at least 14 days.
Despite the lockdown, Kids Haven is still attempting to help other beneficiaries while taking care of their own, but they are in need of some assistance.
“Our children have been in ‘lock down’ since schools closed. But we have shifted some staffing plans to account for the current lockdown which began on March 26,” said fund-raising coordinator Susan Daly.
“We have 15 staff without dependents who have moved into the houses and the centre permanently for the duration of the SA lockdown.”
Daly said all other staff is still working from home and no staff is commuting in and out of the centre, excluding some of the executive management team who have permits to do so.
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“We are maintaining close contact with staff on duty via WhatsApp. We are posting pictures of the activities that the children are included in on our Facebook page.
“The executive management team of four have legal permission to move around during the lockdown so that they can attend to any crises as they happen and ensure that all the residential homes have sufficient food and resources for this period.
“The centre and donation depot are closed and we cannot accept any donations of food or other items at this time.”
Kids Haven is distributing shopping vouchers through their pre-care community support programme to support beneficiaries, including their ECD families.
“We paid R30 000 to receive 120 vouchers (120 x R250),” Daly explained.
“We would appeal to our Benoni supporters to donate R150 to R250 via our website www.kidshaven.co.za for more of these vouchers.
“It is difficult to buy and store food items for distribution because of space and the physical weight of products like mielie meal.
“We try to use food vouchers where possible which are carefully managed through a register and the families are able to have the dignity of choosing the items that they need.”
Daly also said that it may seem silly but they also do not yet have enough Easter eggs for all the children for Easter.
“It may be possible for residents to donate money via our website or EFT so that we can buy the eggs that we need.
“We will be able to go to the supermarket to buy, but we cannot receive any donations that are dropped off at this time.”
Extra costs have been incurred on cleaning materials and sanitisers so they have resorted to the preferred choice of water and soap.
“Our charity shop has closed and so has our donation centre.
“We are grateful for the many donations that we received prior to closing but are extremely worried about the closing of the charity shop.”
The concern about the closing of the shop is for two reasons:
• The shoppers who buy to sell in their community have lost their livelihood.
• Kids Haven will not earn any much-needed income.
“This will significantly impact our financial position. We are fully understanding of the reasons for the lockdown but will feel the economic impact as any small business does.”
Despite the concern, Daly assured Benonians that Kids Haven remains open to receive any child victims of abuse.
Concerned residents can contact Sam Mokgopha on sam@kidshaven.co.za or 073 265 4135 if they are worried about any children living under abusive circumstances at this time.
“We are enjoying seeing some of the creative activities that our children are involved with now that they have time to play and explore.”
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