WaS Foundation continues its winter charity drive

The WaS (Whiskers and Snouts) Foundation, founded in October 2009, was first registered as an Animal Rescue Organisation. Their aim was to rescue animals from local townships and rehome them. In 2011 when founder Esmarelda van Zyl won the Nedbank’s Hero of the Year Award and R10 000, she decided to give back to those who helped her in achieving the award – the community. That’s when Coronation Park, a ‘settlement’ in Krugersdorp, was discovered.

Since then the Jukskei Park-based foundation has started charity drives in Jacaranda Camp (Pretoria), Filedelphia Camp (Pretoria) and Munsieville (Krugersdorp). When asked about the biggest challenge she faces, she finds a lack of exposure a problem. “We all work full-time but we make sure that we give it our all to help others in what little free time we have. At this stage our greatest challenge, as a small NPO, is to get the word out and get more people involved.” She continued, “We don’t ask for financial support, we only ask for food for the people and animals, second-hand clothes and more volunteers to help.”

Of her upcoming projects, she is in the process of starting up a vegetable garden at her three camps to offer some sustainability. Her long-term goal includes opening a charity shop and involving residents of the camps to create some sort of opportunity for them as well. She has just completed a donation run in Munsieville on 27 June and she has three donation runs coming up from mid-July until the end of August.

If anyone is willing to make donations, the WaS Foundation needs maize meal, soya mince, tinned food for the animals and the people, and soup packets and noodles for their meal hampers. If anyone is willing to donate their time or adopt an animal, please contact van Zyl.

Details: Esmarelda van Zyl, donatewas@gmail.com