Donations needed to help South Africans in need
ROODEPOORT – Helping hand initiative launched to help improve the South African community.
Westrand Pet and Bird Farm recently launched The Helping Hand Initiative a project to help uplift and enrich the South African community.
“There are few people helping others who really need it. It is mostly people who were once in those situation themselves, who know what it’s like to be in major need without the help or provision that we take for granted,” said Garry Saunders, one of the owners of The Westrand Pet and Bird Farm.
The first task of The Helping Hand Initiative is to support Fremar, the South African branch of an international organisation called Remar, a non-profit organization which helps all kinds of people on the margins of society.
Since 1998, Remar has been working in South Africa with drug addicts, the elderly, alcoholics, prostitutes, the jobless without marketable skills and many who are simply starving. Fremar helps the people in its care to learn working skills and experience, so that they can find work and become contributing members in the South African society.
“Fremar is also one of the only organisations in South Africa which is free of charge to drug addicts needing rehabilitation. Because of limited resources, Fremar has incurred a long waiting list of people needing help that they can no longer facilitate,” said Saunders.
According to Saunders, drug addicts who cannot afford to pay for other rehabilitation programs are forced to stay on the street for many months before Fremar is able to cater for them.
“This is a painful reality that many of us do not experience or realise,” he said.
Fremar has expressed a dire need for any items that the community could donate, which will go directly back into the community.
“As a result of this great need and an appreciation for what Fremar is doing in our community, The Westrand Pet and Bird Farm’s Helping Hand Initiative is asking the community to please donate any food, unwanted clothing, toys, blankets, household appliances or anything that might help this cause.”
Details: Garry Saunders 011 760 9030.
