The Covid-19 pandemic and consequent lockdown have resulted in a lot of families and community members struggling to put food on the table.
The Wykes Foundation, a registered non-profit company (NPC) has been hard at work to try and meet this need by handing out food parcels to those in the community who are in distress.
Charnay Jacobs, a member of the organisation explained their main goal, saying, “Even though we are based in Westdene, we try to reach out to other needy communities as well. Our main goal is to provide a safe, clean and healthy environment, through the establishment of a safe haven (Heavens Gate Safe Haven), for neglected, abandoned, orphaned and vulnerable children, particularly those living in extremely unhealthy and dangerous environments.
The organisation focuses on implementing community-based rehabilitation and development interventions, targeting the identified children, young people as well as willing parents in order to build strong family units in all communities.”
Helping those in communities who are in dire need because of the Covid-19 pandemic, ties in with their vision, ‘Striving for a world in which the dignity and rights of our children and our community members are protected and ensured’, and Charnay said, “The organisation has responded to the plight of many community members who are in distress as a result of food shortages. Through the generosity and goodwill of family, friends and the general public, the organisation has been able to bring some relief to close to 2 000 people. Our aim is to visit as many areas as possible.”
Charnay concluded by saying, “The community can donate money, or groceries which we can use for cooking, or done good second-hand clothing and blankets.
For more information on how to help, contact me on 061 678 3475 or Lynn Fortuin, the organisation’s founder, on 071 541 3882.”
