Bryanston-based Kids Haven Donation Centre is thankful for the continued support from funders and the improvement of the e-learning hub at the centre, despite lockdown constraints.
Coordinator of fundraising Susan Daly said that successfully managing the various lockdown levels was a major hurdle that they managed to overcome.
Kids Haven recorded four cases of Covid-19 infection (four staff, one youth), but all have recovered and are in good health.
Maintaining learning and the improvement of e-learning platforms were also a major achievement. The centre also delivered food parcels and PPE to community members in need in partnership with community-based organisations. Kids Haven supported 580 families with food parcels and continues with additional support of the development of 250 food gardens for community members in the next four months.
Kids Haven is also thankful for the ongoing support of funders and supporters of events including the golf day held recently.
The organisation also successfully secured a lease from the City of Ekurhuleni following 10 years of requests, to develop a playground in the inner city for children. The playground will include a therapy centre to extend mental health support to communities around Kids Haven. The centre will also develop a drop-in centre for inner-city teens on the site too.
Daly said that delaying the start of several important programmes due to lockdown regulations was tough. The programmes did, however, resume in September. Closing the charity shop for the months of April and June following the Covid-19 infection of a staff member was also difficult and had a ripple effect on income generation for the centre and those who buy from it.
Daly thanks the local community for their overwhelming kindness and generosity during lockdown. She encourages community members to continue giving their unwanted second-hand items and consider sponsoring the Christmas Drive to ensure that children have special meals on 25 December. Kids Haven is also a beneficiary of the Santa Shoebox project which brings Christmas gifts to children across the City.
Locals are encouraged to support Kids Haven by contributing to the payment of school fees for 2021.
Kids Haven looks forward to an exciting 2021 with their new CEO Sam Mokgopha.
Details: 011 706 7959.