Child care centre’s pleas for help, answered

St Anthony’s Child and Youth Care Centre in Blaauwbosch has been granted some respite from the pressures they are under following the delivery of food parcels to the value of R12 500 recently.

Mbongiseni Nzuza, the centre’s director, admitted in a media statement the nationwide lockdown had placed huge pressures on non-profit organisations throughout South Africa due to a lack of funding from independent companies.

Nzuza, who was speaking at a recent handover of essential food parcels to the centre by national brand Hollywoodbets, in collaboration with Nomzamo Mbatha’s Lighthouse Foundation, said the food parcel delivery would make it easier to care for the 75 vulnerable children in the centre’s care.

“The centre reached out to ask for assistance so they would be able to continue feeding the children three nourishing meals a day. We were able to make the donation to offer the much-needed support to this plight,” said Simone Scott, Hollywoodbets’ communication officer.

St Anthony’s was commended by the collaborators for its selfless work which makes a difference in the lives of so many children.

“We hope our support will help them weather this storm so they can continue their mission of supporting the youth of today to improve themselves, as they are the future generations of tomorrow,” said Hollywoodbets Corporate Social Initiative (CSI) champion, Zandile Nembe.

Nzuza thanked the team for the donation, saying St Anthony’s was blessed to have the support of donors who cared about those in need.

“That is the kind of attitude we need as a nation to succeed. We are so appreciative that you have helped us maintain our promise to our children to give them the best we can,” he concluded.