Two German scouts, Maximilian van Heerden and Michael Broschk, who are both 12 years old, spent their holidays doing some community service for their Pioneer Scouts Advancement badges.
They initially decided that they would offer their services to the vegetable garden at the Reea Foundation, a non-profit organisation caring for adults with epilepsy and neurological disorders. Van Heerden’s role as epilepsy Purple Day ambassador was to raise awareness about epilepsy but also to encourage schools and hotels to donate linen and bathroom items, especially toiletries.
This time, the two boys joined forces with Daniella Alexander, a full-time volunteer at Reea, and spent their day collecting linen, towels and bathroom donations from the Faircity Quatermain and Falstaff Hotel in Morningside to gift the many residents at the Reea hostel which is based in Craighall Park.
“We at Faircity Quatermain and Falstaff Hotel would like to thank Epilepsy Awareness South Africa for affording us the opportunity to be part of this great initiative and donating linen to the Reea Foundation,” said Lorinda Pretorius.
She explained that when the hotel was approached to make a donation to Reea they did not hesitate to give linen from the hotel. “[They do] such wonderful work in caring for adults living with epilepsy and we are honoured to have been a part of this project.
“Our hearts are open to any organisation – as giving is the greatest gift of all. One of the values we as ‘Faircitians’ live by, is priding ourselves on getting involved in our community and helping wherever we can.”
“We were happy to have received the donations. I will be starting a toiletry drive in September for the hostel, and if anyone wants to donate, they can contact me,” commented Alexander.
The second half of the boys’ day was spent packing Alexander’s bakkie with approximately 400litres of bottled water donated by local residents. The water will be handed to farmers in KwaZulu-Natal.
According to Alexander, it was due to the drought that the water collection drive for farmers started last year and is ongoing. “All we ask is for community members to fill their empty plastic water bottles and then drop them off at the Reea [Foundation’s] vegetable garden which is located on Marlborough Avenue,” explained Alexander.
The vegetable garden is run by Alexander to grow fresh produce for the residents at the hostel.
Reea’s work is ongoing and they encourage the community to assist with more donations.
Details: Daniella Alexander danant@telkomsa.net
