Organisations bring Christmas joy to residents
The outreach was held to donate clothes to the needy.
Members of the People Matter Foundation (PMF) and Devoted Citizen Movement brought Christmas cheer to the residents of Daveyton during their one-stop community care outreach event at Marivate Park on November 15.
Themed Shop for Free, the organisations donated clothes to the needy and offered free medical check-ups for the elderly, counselling and free legal advice to community members.
According to the founder of both organisations, Reverend Siphiwe Mathebula of Hope Restoration Ministries, they felt that “preaching to people was not enough”.
“We decided to go out and represent Christ in a better way. People are in need. They are unemployed and are struggling. Parents can’t afford clothing for their children.
“We thought we should come here and bless people with clothes, especially with Christmas around the corner. It’s all about bettering the lives of our people,” said Mathebula.
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The reverend started the organisations during the Covid-19 pandemic to lend support to needy communities.
“During Covid our people were struggling. We felt we should come up with something to better the lives of our people. We build houses for the destitute and bake bread for the unemployed to keep them going.”
Hundreds of residents waited patiently in queues for their turn to ‘shop for free’. Items like sneakers, boots, jeans and t-shirts were displayed neatly on the ground, while jackets were on a rack.
Nelly Malepe and Sarah Mashego expressed gratitude to the PMF as they joined hundreds of others to ‘shop’ for clothing for themselves and their children.
“Thanks to the PMF and the other organisations. They have helped us a lot today because we were able to pick up some nice clothing we didn’t have. Some of us didn’t know what we would buy for our children for Christmas,” said Malepe.
Mashego added, “Thank you very much to the PMF for remembering us. When I get home, I’m going to put the clothes in the washing machine and then wear them.”
Looking ahead, Mathebula said their next mission is to fight the drug abuse scourge in townships.
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