The community has stepped up to help new moms-in-need in Lwandle, with a donation of baby clothes and other necessities, and how this came about is a testament to the value of connections, and the good side of social media.
Former Cape Town city councillor, now parliamentarian, Benedicta van Minnen, explains:
“Councillor Buli Madikane had identified a group of moms in Lwandle with new-born babies in need of help.
Due to lockdown, these moms have even less than their usual meagre income and are struggling to find clothes for their new arrivals. Help from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is not available, and winter is approaching, so something had to be done.”
Having heard about the Ubuntu Feeds project launched by Sub-council chair Stuart Pringle in association with the Somerset West Rotary Club, Ms Van Minnen contacted Somerset West Rotarian, Eppie McFarlane, who immediately put out a call on local Facebook community pages, appealing for help.
Helderberg Crime Watch offices on the corner of Sergeant and Victoria streets was the drop-off location for donations, which streamed in, according to Ms McFarlane.
Donations included baby clothes, disposable nappies, baby blankets, soft toys, and baby mattresses, among others. “The community really responded well, with a variety of items being donated. We (the Rotary Club of Somerset West) have an on-going baby-box programme, which is stalled because of Covid-19, so we donated the baby clothes and mattresses we had, all of which were then handed to Buli, for distribution to the moms-in-need in Lwandle, said Ms McFarlane.”
“There was a wonderful response from people, particularly mothers, in the Helderberg. These really are the most vulnerable of society and it is indicative of our mutual Ubuntu that moms stepped forward to assist other moms,” Ms Van Minnen told Bolander.
