Inspired by seeing the community she lives in clean and helping those in need, a Morningside resident started a clean-and-feed project.
Wendy Melpage saw many people sitting by the roadside who needed help, especially now, as many have lost their jobs and have families to feed. She initially held a drive with a friend during the lockdown and they raised R100 000 in food and monetary donations for different areas.
The owner of a homemade lemonade business, Wendy’s Lemonade, Wendy Melpage said one day as she was walking on South Road, Sand River, she noticed how dirty the river was. She then remembered she saw people by the roadside asking for help and she went to them to ask if they would be interested in cleaning the river and, in return, she offered food parcels worth R150.
“I told them I will give them 20 refuse bags each and I will choose 10 people. I asked them to meet me at the petrol station the next day. When I got there, 100 people were waiting for me and I wrote down their names,” said Melpage.
She has been running the initiative for eight weeks now and has also received help from individuals in the community. She advised that if you saw a need to help and you were able to help, just go and do it. Try to help wherever and whenever you can.
She hopes to continue with this initiative as there is a lot that still needs to be done. “I want all our rivers clean, many people working and families fed, that is my dream.”
For more information, Whatsapp her on 083 326 6097 or email her at info@wendyslemonade.co.za
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