Dear Santa, please bring our creche building supplies so we can stay open in 2008! This is the Christmas wish from the 180 kids at the Heart Care Centre, a non-profit creche that humbly serves the Princess squatter camp near Roodepoort.

Wide-eyed children from very poor backgrounds got a surprise visit from Santa Claus bearing gifts of dolls and cars at their Christmas party yesterday.

Creche founders Rina Smit and Heather Hewitt have created an oasis of hope that offers the needy kids a respite from their harsh lives in the nearby squatter camp.

But the creche is under threat of closure for failure to meet health regulations.

Rina and Heather couldn't have named the creche more aptly, for they are dedicated to loving and caring for all the small children in their midst.

The creche needs a boost from the community to comply with health department requirements in order to secure an operating permit and keep its doors open.

The Citizen has adopted the centre through its “Citizen Cares” charity fund.

Some donors have helped with glass, paint and assistance with the sand pits.

On the urgent list

* Two hand wash basins and taps,

* A lockable medical cabinet,

* One first aid box,

* Kitchen units for making babies bottles on,

* 2 kitchen bins with tight lids,

* 2 swing-lid bins,

* 1 nappy disposal bin,

* Anti-bacterial soaps,

* soap dispensers,

* cooking overalls and head covers,

* wood and brackets for shelving food,

* kitchen units,

* store cupboard for mops, brooms and buckets,

* cleaning supplies,

* metal lockers for staff,

* tables and chairs for grade 1-7,

* bed for sick bay,

* waterproof mattress, * nappy changing mats.

* CitiCares wishes to extend its gratitude to the following: Management and Staff The Citizen and Caxton Newspaper Distributors, SA Emergency Care, Dutch Reformed Church Krugersdorp East, Augustas Canteen, Riaan @ Soundfreaks 082 344 6352, Cup Cake Connexion 011 954 4445