Inspiring Women – Part 2: Giving hope to others

As South Africa commemorates Women’s Month this August, the Northglen News brings you a five-part editorial, featuring inspirational women from the north Durban area. Women’s Month is a tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on August 9, 1956, to protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women. Prepare to be wowed with some inspirational stories from empowering women who want nothing more than to empower and uplift the communities they are surrounded by.  

WHAT started as a form of therapy for her grandchildren, has given rise to a foundation that feeds, clothes and supports those in need.

Martha Linderboom is the founder of Crystal Hope Foundation that sponsors meals to children in north Durban schools twice a week, old age homes once a month and assists 10 elderly women raising grandchildren and living on a state pension in Greenwood Park, with grocery hampers.
In addition to this she has ongoing clothing and sanitary drives too.

READ ALSO: Inspiring Women – Part 1: Answering the call to serve

“My daughter, Crystal, suffered with chronic asthma and died in December 2016. There was an ambulance strike so she was unable to get to the hospital. I dashed out of work and managed to get her to a hospital but she only lived for an hour. She was placed on life support but the doctors told me she was agitated by the machines. I spoke to her on her death bed and asked her if she wanted the machines removed. She nodded in approval and I said my goodbye to her,” said Linderboom.

“She left behind four beautiful children who have lived with me, my husband and younger daughter ever since,” she added.

One day, one of her grandchildren told her that he noticed his friend at school did not have lunch and asked if Linderboom could make extra lunch for him to give to his friend.

The other three also decided they would do the same as they also had friends who did not have lunch at school, and that gave rise to the lunch pack drive.

“During therapy it came out that this small initiative made the children felt good, it uplifted their spirits so we started doing food drives in addition to the lunch packs. The school principal commended us but said weekends were a worry as the school did provide meals during the week and that some of the children had no food to eat over the weekend.”

Meal preparations began in the Linderboom home for pasta and mince and 40 children were fed that weekend.

“I posted pictures on Facebook, not of the children receiving the meals, but of the food and people started telling me that I needed to make this official and they will contribute,” she said.

Linderboom said the children asked if she would name the initiative in memory of their mother and so, Crystal Foundation was born.

“It is a joint effort and as a family we all have a role to play in the foundation. The boys help with the meal preps and catering, while the girls handle the sanitary pack drive and the designing of the marketing material.

“It gives me great joy that I have the opportunity to make a difference in so many lives through the help of others. Seeing joy and hope in the children’s eyes is priceless. Through paying it forward, I have learnt patience and how to handle different situations.” she said.

“I only take pictures of the food that I cook and donate, and the items that are donated. If you are helping people, I don’t think it’s right to take photos of the beneficiaries. Sometimes, the beneficiaries take pictures and post them on social media, which is fine, but I will not take pictures myself,” she added.