To commemorate Nelson Mandela Day, which is observed on July 18, Wiesenhof Coffee Roastery collaborated with the Heidelberg Hope Foundation, Skoon Heidelberg and Lesedi Community Centre to clean up around the taxi rank in Heidelberg Central on July 16.
Thereafter, the group visited the Heidelberg SPCA, where they continued their Mandela Day community outreach programme.
“The SPCA receives around 25 to 30 dogs every month and is constantly in need of food and finances to maintain the kennels for the dogs and cats,” said Petro Coetzee, the chairperson for the Heidelberg SPCA.
“The numbers might be less or more during certain months but we need food, blankets and finances for the animals’ daily care.”
Various schools, community members and businesses joined the outing to the SPCA with Wiesenhof Coffee Roastery and could meet the rugby legend, Kobus Wiese.
Schools in attendance included Heidelberg Academy, Laer Volkskool, and Hoër Volkskool.
“It is important to be part of the community and to help where we can,” said Wiese, former Springbok rugby player and owner of Wiesenhof Coffee Roastery.
“Everyone in the community can do their part by being productive and helping in their own way.
“Every small act is seen and appreciated more than imagined.”
Coetzee added the community can make a difference and the help from the Mandela Day initiative is greatly appreciated.
“We rely on the community and donations and the more we get, the easier it is to look after the animals in the shelter.
“We constantly get animals in and we appreciate any help from the community,” she said.
Contact the Heidelberg SPCA at 016 342 4114 or 071 994 9960.
