Salavation Army starts winter blanket drive
Weekly feeding also takes place at the premises, in Turvey Avenue.
The Salvation Army wants to collect 1 000 blankets by the start of winter to donate to the homeless as part of their night feeding project.
“We feed about 90 to 140 people who sleep in the streets of Benoni every week and hand out blankets three to four times during winter,” said Major Jeffrey Stafford, of The Salvation Army.
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“We go out quite late on a Thursday night, at about 9pm, so that we reach those who actually sleep on the street as opposed to those walking home who may not necessarily need a free meal as much as a homeless person.
“This is something we do over and above the normal caring of those we have at the centre.”
“Our weekly feeding from Monday to Friday is done outside our gate at the hall where we give out a meal (soup) and some bread,” Stafford said.
These donations are always welcomed:
• Soup ingredients, mainly vegetables and soup bones.
• Bread.
• Non-perishable and perishable foods.
• Soya products.
• Spreads for bread.
• Toiletries.
The NPO is also looking for a canopy for their bakkie since an incident occurred in October last year where the donations of bread they pick up from a local supplier in Howard Avenue daily was “hijacked” by groups of homeless people while The Salvation Army’s bakkie was stationary at a traffic light in the CBD.
“We are now very aware and look out for these thieves. Incidents have decreased but there are those who still try to steal our donations off the back of the bakkie,” Stafford said.
“Some form of a canopy would definitely prevent this from happening; we’d be so grateful if someone could assist us.”
Donations can be dropped off at the premises on the corner of Howard and Turvey avenues.
The Salvation Army can be contacted on 011 422 4418.
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