AN appeal for support for local non-government organisations (NGOs) during lockdown has paid dividends, says the Denis Hurley Centre, which reported that R1.66 million was collected and distributed recently.
Commenting on the news, Raymond Perrier, director of the Denis Hurley Centre (DHC), said early on in lockdown, the DHC agreed to take on the role of co-ordinating the appeal to support the range of NGOs providing help to the homeless.
The appeal was launched through various media at the end of March and followed up with a more detailed proposal published on 1 April.
It was announced on 21 July on social media that the appeal was closed.
Perrier said in total, R1,661,684.78 was collected through this appeal.
There were 634 separate transactions, and while 26 were major amounts, over R10,000, from grant-making bodies or corporates, most were smaller amounts from companies and individuals in the Durban area.
“This is testimony to the generosity of ordinary Durbanites,” said Perrier.
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He said the DHC Trustees have now discharged their legal responsibility to oversee the allocation of the money.
“Applications for grants were assessed by an Advisory Group which was independent both of the Denis Hurley Centre and of any other potential beneficiaries. The DHC Trustees have accepted the recommendations of the Advisory Group which was made up of five community leaders reflecting the diversity of Durban,” he said.
In the end, through six tranches of grant allocations, funds have been given to 10 organisations. Fifty-eight per cent went to organisations providing food or managing food distribution, eight per cent for IDs and recreational activities, nine per cent for primary healthcare and 25 per cent for a specialist drug withdrawal programme.
Perrier said many areas did not need grant funding, as goods or services were either provided by the Municipality or donated by NGOs and corporates.
“Durban deserves a pat on the back for sharing its resources to keep almost 1,700 homeless people safe during the hard lockdown,” said Perrier.
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At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.
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