Local church donates to children’s centre
Soweto Urban previously published an article that Rena Le Lona Centre for Children is one of the non-profit organisations that were left with less choice but to stop children from coming to the centre unless if they receive donations from local stakeholders.
Emotions were running high at Rena Le Lona Centre for children as youth members of African Methodist Episcopal Church Bethel in Zone 1 donated food items and clothes on May 13.
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This comes after the Gauteng MEC of Social Development, Mbali Hlophe announced that the department will reprioritise funds towards substance abuse, homelessness and youth development.
Soweto Urban previously published an article that Rena Le Lona Centre for Children is one of the non-profit organisations that were left with less choice but to stop children from coming to the centre unless if they receive donations from local stakeholders.
The second vice president of the African Episcopal Church Bethel, Faith Mashian said their hearts are filled with great joy knowing that they managed to raise funds and give back to underprivileged children at their moment of need.
“Today we are here as the youth of a faith-based organisation to show love and give hope to the children. We also brought our little offering of food items and clothes and we hope that they will go a long way.
“We feel really blessed and emotional more than anything. Seeing their faces and smiles when they saw that we have something for them, it was just overwhelming,” Mashian said.
Mashian added that this is a rewarding feeling for them and they would like to keep their relationship with the centre ongoing and come more often to donate.
“We got some of the donated items from our church members as well as through raising donations and we hope that in a few months to come we will be back to donate again because making a difference in our communities is really close to our hearts, especially in the lives of children.
“We would like to encourage the young ones and the centre employees to always lean unto God and cast all their worries to him because he will never leave nor forsaken them.”
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Rena Le Lona Centre for Children manager, Mlungisi Mvelase could not help but shed tears as he expressed heartfelt gratitude to the team for pledging the donations.
“We are currently facing real hard times as a centre and it warms our heart to see that there are still stakeholders that genuinely care about the well-being of the children.
“I also become very emotional when entering the centre and knowing that the children cannot come for meals as they used to due to lack of funding and also remembering all the memories that were made in this building, made me realise that this is not only a centre for the children but a home.”
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Mvelase added that some local businesses have come on board to assist them during this difficult time including Debonairs Pizza which donates bread on Wednesdays, Woolworths, BSL Steel as well as Roots Butchery.
“We are really grateful for the support we have been receiving and we are calling on more businesses to please come and assist.
“Our employees still come to work even without getting paid. This shows that caring for children is the only thing that we know and not even the hurdles that we are facing now can keep us away.”
One of the children said they miss coming to centre after school to enjoy the scrumptious meals and arts, choir, gumboots dance and acting classes from their mentors.
“We love being in the centre because there is a lot that we learn and we want the centre to reopen.”
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