Founder of the foundation, Deanna Novick, explained that the foundation collected wheelchairs for anyone in need.
“We are not selective, we try to help anyone who needs a wheelchair. We know that this changes the individual’s life as well as the family around them,” she said.
Founded in February 2013, Novick explained that the foundation had now given away a total of 92 wheelchairs.
“The first chair was handed over on 14 February 2013, which is Valentines Day, and that is why we call ourselves the Sweetheart Foundation,” Novick explained.
Novick thanked the Johannesburg Mini Council and Junior Council (an organisation that develops youth leadership), for their tremendous support. The councillors are children appointed by their schools, who organise their schools to collect bread tags and bottle-tops which then get handed to Interwaste (South African Waste Management and Environment Services Company). Interwaste then gives the foundation the wheelchairs, Novick explained.
Lindiwe Sibiya from Interwaste said, “We weigh the bottle-caps and bread tags, and if they meet the target and the school can find a beneficiary, we will then provide them with a wheelchair.”
“Schools and non-government organisations need to collect a total of 150 bottle-tops and 15kg of bread tags in order to get a wheelchair,” Sibiya explained.
Sibiya added that, that number doubled for corporate companies.
Speaking at the handover, member of the Johannesburg council Emma Rogers said, “This amazing initiative has opened my eyes and made me see that we take our legs for granted, and only if we lost them would we see how valuable they are.”
Do you know of anybody who needs a wheelchair? Tweet us @RK_Gazette and let us know.
