The women from Hope and Halos NPO hosted a Christmas party for struggling families and the Thandabantu Care Centre at the Springs Old Boys Club on Saturday.
All of the children received brand-new bicycles, book bags, stationery, toiletries and much more.
The children enjoyed various activities on the day, such as a jumping castle, ring toss and many more fun games.
One of the sponsors was an insurance company from Johannesburg.
Sedick Isaacs, Malcolm Rowe, Hannes van der Merwe and Michelle Whitelaw from the company came to support the day.
The company sponsored all the stationery, toiletries, sweet buckets and the spit braai. Its members made cupcakes and handed over a cheque to Hope and Halos to the amount of R24 000 to pay for the Thandabantu feeding scheme every week.
“They will be given food to the value of R500 every Wednesday to assist them in feeding the community,” says Louise Mawhinney, one of the founders of Hope and Halos.
More representatives from another well-known insurance company in Springs, Stephen Williams and Yael Diner, sponsored the majority of the gifts, which included brand-new bicycles, cellphones and vouchers.
Louise says George MacDonald, from an automotive seating and electrical systems company, is one of their staunchest supporters and always comes to the party with whatever they need.
“He donates mostly in the form of cash for us to help our families with food and has to date donated a substantial amount of money,” she says.
Michelle Perreira, from a logistics and warehousing solutions company, sponsored a number of gifts that were still required.
“The company also arranged free transport for a family from Krugersdorp to get to the event and arranged to get them back, free of charge.
“They will be sponsoring the December pantry for Vita Nova Centre and will also be handing out sweeties to the Vita Nova residents,” says Louise.
“To the whole East Rand community and even those who follow us from afar and have made donations into our account, we couldn’t have done it without you.
“We feel truly blessed to be part of Hope and Halos, and without each and every person involved on the day, it would never have been the success that it was.”