Generous residents of Boksburg and from as far afield as Kempton Park flocked to the God’s Way Ministries in Beyers Park for the fund-raising event for Jeremiah’s Hope Baby Safe.
Jeremiah’s Hope is the project of Life Link Pregnancy Crisis Centre in Kempton Park, founded by Boksburg resident Sharon Rushton.
Rushton said they are still raising funds to buy a property for the project, which will be used to house the abandoned babies.
“The property we want to buy costs about R1.2-million and so far we have raised R675 000,” said Rushton.
She said Jeremiah’s Hope was launched because so many babies were being abandoned.
“It will be a safe place for women to leave their unwanted babies, after which the infants will be taken for medical evaluation and released for adoption,” said Rushton.
“In October 2016, in the area where our crisis centre is based, six babies were dumped in seven weeks. If these women had an alternative, they could have dropped them off at the safe house and not just abandoned them on the street. Jeremiah’s Hope will offer those babies hope and a future.
“We want those babies to live.”
Rushton said because they have been running the crisis centre for 18 years in Kempton Park, they decided it was necessary to establish the safe house in the same city.
“We originally wanted to open the safe house in 2016 and had earmarked a property, but the use of the property feel through.
“We had a donor who offered us R600 000, but it’s only half of what we need. This is why we are still continuing to raise funds to buy this house,” Rushton said.
On the day of the fund-raising event, attendees had to bring a toiletry item for a mother or baby. Attendees bought tickets and raffle tickets, which enabled them to stand a chance to win amazing prizes worth R15 000.
Some of the sponsors for the event were George’s and Co, Albany Bakery, Trinity Harps, Pillars of Hope, Adele Designer Jewellery, Laura Lovell, Foxy’s Stationers, Rose of Sharon Photography, Ashlee Laurie Photography, Chez Nous Hair, Tricia van Aswegen, Avril Nortjie, Judith Liversage, Ashes To Beauty, and Fire and Ice Air Conditioning.
Rushton appealed to companies and donors that might be interested in pledging to the organisation to contact her on 011 394 8560 or 083 562 6106.
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