Club celebrates altruistic year
The 31 Club wrapped up their outreach work for the year with a morning spent at Claire Ellis Brown Pre-Primary. Ther
RECENTLY, the altruistic women from the 31 Club wrapped up their outreach work for the year with a morning spent at Claire Ellis Brown Pre-Primary, an inner city pre-school based on Durban’s South Beach.
Club members were entertained by the children performing their year-end concert, ‘Reuse, Reduce Waste, Recycle’, narrated by principal, Nora Saneke.
“What a happy morning of singing and joy, especially when Father Christmas arrived with small gifts for everyone. The children then enjoyed a party with treats supplied by the club. This was a humbling experience for all the guests and an opportunity to salute the dedicated, loving staff who face many challenges in their daily work,” said Jo Behr, head of 31 Club charities.
Over the past two years, the club has used some of the funds raised to upgrade the school. Security has been improved with palisade fencing around the perimeter, the roof has been repaired and the children’s bathroom has also been refurbished and repainted.
What’s more, the borer-ridden, dilapidated cupboards in each of the classrooms were also replaced.
Every year, the club hosts five events to raise funds used to support 50 organisations within the greater Durban area, including the Animal Anti-Cruelty League, CHOC, I Care, Highway Hospice, Durban & Coast SPCA and Open Door Crisis Centre.
Some of the events organised by the club this year include a ‘Bags and Blossoms’ Spring High Tea‘, which raised R71 000, and the annual Christmas-themed Bridge Drive, which garnered an additional R65 000.
The 31 Club is a registered non-profit organisation which was formed in 1962 by a group of women under the chairmanship of Norma Rattray. As the group consisted of 31 volunteers, the club was named accordingly, and membership remains at a maximum of 31 members who work on a regular voluntary basis. Contact the club via e-mail on pro@31club.co.za.
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