Halls recognises We Care founder as a Winter hero after years of keeping
Palesa Letsoalo, founder of We Care, gains recognition as a Halls winter hero for helping Alexandra’s grandmothers and families survive the cold with blankets, hot meals, and steady support.
Winter bites hard, and many elderly caregivers face the season with empty cupboards and thin
blankets in Alexandra.
That is why, over 12 years ago, Palesa Letsoalo took it upon herself to become a local winter hero, bringing warmth to scores of elderly residents in the community. Recently, through her non-profit organisation, We Care, the Halls ‘Breathe Through It, campaign Letsoalo for her quiet, consistent acts of compassion helping vulnerable and their families endure the coldest months.
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For over a decade, Letsoalo has dedicated herself to supporting the elderly who raise their grandchildren while parents work or struggle to make ends meet. We Care provides blankets to keep them warm, cooks and serves nourishing hot meals to combat both hunger and the chill, and runs donation drives to fill homes that often have nothing.
“Sometimes they don’t have anything in their homes,” Letsoalo explained. “Sometimes there is no one who is working, and the grannies are relying on their SASSA grants.”
Many grandmothers, she noted, lack even the small amounts needed for extra food for the children in their care. “That’s when I felt like opening this, in order to support them and meet them halfway.”
Letsoalo’s work is rooted in her own childhood, and was inspired by small yet fond memories. She recalled how her grandmother used to wrap her in a blanket and offer her a warm cup of soup during freezing winters.
She said these were simple gestures that made her feel safe and warm amid the cold. Those memories now fuel her mission. Through We Care, she passes on that same care to dozens of families in Alexandra.
She admitted that her work has been challenging, as she often has to take money from her own pocket to pay for transport to collect and deliver food parcels. For years, she’s also never really felt like her efforts are appreciated by most people, besides the recipients of the food parcels and blankets.
However, recently, she was elated to receive a winter hamper from Halls, and she noted that receiving that marks the first formal recognition in over a decade of service. “I am so grateful. I never expected that I would get anything like this.”
The campaign’s message resonates deeply with her story. Just as a Halls helps one catch their breath and keep going, Letsoalo helps entire households breathe easier during winter.
