An organisation that feeds around 600 of Krugersdorp’s most vulnerable, was dealt a heavy blow yesterday, 12 May.
The Cradle of Hope in Krugersdorp was forced to stop serving the homeless, hungry and destitute their daily warm meal, often the only meal they would receive for the day.
“Today was a bitterly sad day at The Cradle of Hope,” a post from the founder of the organisation, Melodie van Brakel, stated on their Facebook page.
Every day, for the past three years, they have been supplying fresh peanut butter sandwiches to around 300 to 400 hungry adults and children. During the past six weeks this number has doubled.
“Strict hygiene measures were put in place, social distancing was perfected and a health inspector gave us a temporary health certificate to continue our labour of love.
Many of these recipients are homeless persons who do not have any access to cooking facilities. Others are just so poor that they cannot afford any electricity and water.
“Today we were formally forced to stop doing this.”
Their permit as issued by Department of Social Development (DSD), very clearly prohibits them from serving any cooked or prepared food, and only allows them to distribute non-perishable food parcels and maize, which they preferably have to deliver to the recipients as well.
“We also need to apply for a new permit for every new day, which has to be picked up, and signed for, from the local DSD offices. I personally phoned the Regional Director of DSD and spoke to her regarding our sandwiches. Her answer was a very clear no. We are forced to comply with the regulations. We have no choice. Our focus now needs to shift to supplying food parcels. We have no choice. At the moment we are supplying between 80 and 120 food parcels every day.
We can only hand out what we receive. Literally anything and everything makes a difference.”
Melodie also said they receive neither government funding nor food, and rely solely on donors, sponsors and volunteers for support and assistance. But this very dark cloud has a very feint silver lining; you can still help them by donating funds.
Donate via their account:
The Cradle of Hope
First National Bank
Account no: 621-8035-2628
Branch code: 250241
Reference: FP and YOUR NAME
“We can issue Section 18a SARS tax certificates for all donations received.” You can also donate via BackaBuddy.
“For a copy of our needs list, please contact Sharon Lee on WhatsApp on 079 049 5802, or email info@thecradleofhope.org or visit www.thecradleofhope.org.
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