Most people agree that giving is better than receiving and the Parktown North Methodist Church lives up to that guideline. The church secretary, Liz Sterley, shared on the church’s day-to-day running which is filled with giving to the community. “On Wednesday morning at 10.30am we serve tea and sandwiches to the homeless people and at 6.30pm we serve them a hot meal.”
She added that on Thursday morning from about 10 o’clock they teach sewing and knitting classes to anybody who wants to come and participate. Sterley said historically they had a lot of domestic workers coming in for the classes.
Besides the food and meals that the church offers to the homeless fellows, the church also lets them come in on Friday mornings to take a shower and wash their clothes. “This is called the Hope and Soap Project and it is a part of our mission to give dignity to everybody passing through our gates,” Sterley said.
The church also runs a project with Ikageng Itireleng in Soweto where a group of people are taught how to make candles. There is a shop in Soweto where these candlemakers can then set up their own businesses and become self-sufficient.
“Ikageng Itireleng consists of child-headed households and we have started a programme of empowering substance-abuse reformed addicts. They are given a sense of purpose to own money and support their siblings,” Sterley explained.
A partnership with St Stithians College ensures the delivery of 23 loaves of bread to the church every week. “We are always looking for funding and donations of tinned food, vegetables, bread, bread-spread and many more are welcome,” she said.
Sterley also spends some time typing out the fellows’ CVs and in the past 10 years, about 40 to 50 men have gotten jobs and been taken off the streets.
With the new minister, Reverend Sifiso Khuzwayo, things are set to get even better at the church. “I look forward to the prospects of working with a lively congregation which understands the purpose of being involved with the community,” said Khuzwayo.
Details: Parktown North Methodist Church 011 442 8859
Are you doing any community project? Email the details to naidines@caxton.co.za
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