Social media unites NPOs in outreach
Waste Action Tribe was among the organisations that responded, purchasing food for the community with a portion of the R27 000 raised when a Glen Anil resident spearheaded a cycle fundraiser in May.
GLEN ANIL residents, Kate and Gavin Da Silva joined several organisations which banded together to assist KwaMashu residents after a fire devastated an informal settlement recently. Kate sparked concerns for the settlement when she posted images of the fire on social media.
Local NPO, Waste Action Tribe (WAT) was among the organisations that responded, purchasing food for the community with a portion of the R27 000 raised when Gavin spearheaded a cycle fundraiser in May.
“It feels great to know that some people were able to eat meals rather than facing hunger and starvation. We are both very interested in helping our communities become more self-sustainable,” said Gavin.
The cycle funds were used to feed communities in uMlazi, Amanzimtoti, Inanda, Dundee, Ladysmith, Glenwood, Chatsworth, Umgababa, Stanger and Palmiet, said Lindsay Hopkins, WAT founder and KZN coordinator for the C-19 People’s Coalition, an organisation which was formed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Social media is so powerful in aiding collaborations. That’s how it all came together. WAT is centred around partnership and I like to collaborate, so it was incredible to see it come into practice. We donated 10 kg packs of butternut, carrots, potatoes and onions as well as maize meal and sugar beans. I bought really good bulk packs directly from farmers,” she said.
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Tracy Klokie, founder of Heart and Hands Food Bank also responded to Kate’s social media post.
“Our food bank doesn’t generally veer out of the upper Highway area. We started in response to the pandemic. My friend Kate tagged me in a post about the fire and alerted me to the devastation and we decided to get involved. We handed out 100 food packs and 150 face masks as well as 15 Covid-19 educational boards written in isiZulu with information about the protocols,” she said.
Klokie also reached out to Kim Griffith Jones of the Robin Hood Foundation (RHF) which joined the initiative, donating 100 clothing parcels.
“At the Robin Hood Foundation, it’s always wonderful to collaborate with other NPOs that are making a difference in the community. We very firmly believe that when we all stand together we can make such a meaningful impact in the lives of those that need it most,” said Griffith-Jones.
She added that 200 families were affected by the recent KwaMashu fires.
Paul Mann and Craig Adam helped transport goods in trucks from Functions for Africa and volunteers from the Jess Ford foundation handed out anti-GBV flyers and sanitary pads.
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