Honeydew CPF thanks community for #Knysnafire donations

John Baisley, Honeydew Community Policing Forum Sector 2 chairperson, writes:

Dear residents of the West Rand.

The first week of June saw Knysna in the Eastern Cape devastated by numerous fires. As we all know by now, many residents were displaced with many losing everything they had.

On the morning of 8 June, three of us on the West Rand realised that there appeared to be little being done for those in need in Knysna. A Whatsapp message was posted on all the emergency groups we were part of, along with a number of Facebook pages. The message contained what was needed in Knysna and the need to share the message.

Within minutes of the messages being posted, the door bells started ringing and for the next three days it did not stop. We ran out of space and had to call on others for storage space.

READ: More donations for #Knysnafire victims 

Trucks provided by Caxton collected the first consignments at 10am on 9 June from the collection points and departed for Knysna. More trucks left again on 12 June with a further collection on 15 June. At this point we were advised to please stop collecting as Knysna could no longer accept donations due to space constraints.

We must also not forget the many other South Africans that opened their hearts, pockets and in some way became involved in helping those they will never know. The collections were short-term help and we know the rebuilding of homes and getting back to normal will take a lot longer.

As a South African, it was a humbling experience to see what people donated. The stories are numerous as to how we all shared. We were strangers yet we all felt the common need to help.

To those that came from far and wide to drop off donations, thank you. It shows that we as South Africans can rise above the challenges we face and we remain a resilient country. South Africa has not gone to the dogs and we live in an amazing place and are blessed with amazing, caring people.

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Another truck load of community support for Knysna fire victims