The Sunninghill Ratepayers Association share their festive season wishes

Sunninghill Ratepayers Association shares their thoughts on the past year
Chairperson of the association, Linda Gildenhys said the year had been a difficult one for residents and people in the association alike.

“As a ratepayers association, it broke our hearts to see the businesses we loved and frequented, battling to survive and, yes, some eventually closing their doors permanently.
“It broke our hearts to see some of our residents lose their income and struggle with their pride, not being able to ask for help. We felt so helpless and then we made the decision that in 2020 much of our focus would have to change,” she said.

Gildenhys said a drive was started by the association in which they collected R36 000 to protect members of the community working on the frontline. This while many others were at home keeping to lockdown regulations.

The association had also reached out to volunteers to establish a community action network to aid the less fortunate. She said residents and various businesses donated money, toiletries, food and other items, and volunteers had packed food hampers to hand out weekly.
Gildenhys added that the number of those in dire straits and in need of this assistance had since decreased, with many residents and homeless people now receiving an income again after getting back to work.

Looking to next year, Gildenhys said the association hoped to continue their main function which was Sunninghill’s upkeep.

“We hope to, in addition to one of our main functions of keeping our residents safe, be able to pick up our beautification of the area, develop a park in partnership with City Parks in the high density part of Sunninghill where there is no public open space, and we have already begun with this project.”

In conclusion, Gildenhys wished all the residents in the area a restful festive season, and thanked all community members and businesses for their contributions throughout the year

“This has been a year like no other. It has been a year of fear, anxiety, love, giving, anger and frustration. It has also been a year of realising our many blessings.

“I pray that all those who work and live in Sunninghill are blessed during the holiday period coming up. I hope that we can all rest and recharge our bodies, minds and spirit as we so desperately need to. I do know one thing, however, and that is whatever 2021 brings us, we will survive and come out on top.”