Lornette and family help the elderly
Family came together for the aged.
Former I Love Kensington Association (Ilka) chairperson, Mrs Lornette Joseph and her family ensured the residents of Gerald Fitzpatrick Old Age Home’s recently had something to smile about.
Mrs Joseph, along with her brother, sisters and other family members, ran their second annual drive for elderly residents during the festive season last year.
She said the initiative was started after most of other charity drives focused on helping children during festive season.
“Elderly residents survive on their government pension fund. They have to pay for their stay at the homes, toiletries and still have to get other extras. Their budget is so stretched. We decided to do something like the shoe box campaign for children and get them goody bags,” she said.
The campaign started in 2014.
“My sister and I put together some goody bags. We appealed to our friends on Facebook and spoke to different companies. People were extremely generous. Those who could not put together a bag, gave us cash donations and we used to money to add goodies to the bags,”
Mrs Joseph said the goody bags contained toiletries and other immediate necessities.
She said the drive included breakfast and entertainment for the elderly residents.
She urged other residents to not forget the elderly residents in their area.
“You do not have to be a big company to do it. You can do it as an individual, family, club, friends or just neighbours; you will grow from there. There are many old age homes in different areas. They need every little bit of help that you can give,” she said.
Mrs Joseph said the goody bags this year cost between R100 and R200.
She said this year’s campaign will start early in order to cover as many elderly residents as possible.
She said the 2015 drive was led by herself and her husband, her sisters Coral, Mandy and Liz, as well as their husbands and other family members.
She hopes to grow the initiative next year.
