THE nuns of the Assisi Convent based in Glenwood, have appealed to the public to support their fundraising initiative with donations of good second hand items for a ‘Jumble Sale’ on Sunday, 2 August.
According to Sister Jabu Sithole, the fundraising drive initiated by the Glenwood convent came from a need to raise funds for their elderly nuns at their Port Shepstone Mother House. “In the years before 1986, we received funds from overseas donors, but after we became independent we had to go to work as teachers, nurses and social workers to bring in an income to the convent. Over the years many of the nuns retired so we are left with only a few who are still working to support the congregation,” explained Sr Jabu.
The elderly retired nuns became frail and needed more care but Sr Jabu said there were fewer new nuns joining the convent who could contribute financially so funding became a constant battle. The St Jude’s Retirement Home was opened in 1997 at the Mother House to provide special care for the retired nuns. When Sr Jabu visited the Home two years ago with a sack of oranges from the Glenwood convent, she noticed the elderly nuns were overjoyed. “They thanked me and told me it had been a very long time since they had any fruit. I was touched and realised I need to do something,” Sr Jabu said.
The Home was registered as a public benefit and non-profit organisation, with a committee of nuns from around the province. A nurse herself, Sr Jabu was moved to ask Glenwood resident, Terry Groenink who had been doing some work at the hospital for assistance on how to fundraise for the Home.
Groenink told Berea Mail she was praying to be guided into assisting in a project with her limited time and resources. “I asked God to send me an angel and I asked Him not to be subtle because I wanted to offer myself to a good cause in need and there Sr Jabu was, not an angel but a nun, which was a sure sign from God!”
“I visited the Mother House and saw these nuns were living in a sub-standard condition, with their diet made up of starch and no dairy, fruit or protein. They were in desperate need of a fridge, trolley to move the food and a bain marie which I was blessed to be able to help them with,” she said.
Groenink appealed to the Glenwood community to come on board as volunteers to help the nuns. “It’s been such a privilege and now everyone can get involved by paying it forward with any good second hand goods, clothes, handbags, shoes etc. We are also going to raffle hampers at Bargain Bazaar in Port Shepstone. The sisters are trying to do it for themselves and I hope the Glenwood community will be able to help them along. We are hoping to have mounds of goods,” added Groenink.
Contact Terry Groenink to assist the nuns or for more information on 083 3010232. The public can drop off items at 26 Nicolson Road (entrance at Ventry Lane).
Anything that we are not able to sell at the Jumble Sale will be taken to the NGO table at Essenwood Market.
