Boerie braai funds community work
A weekly braai in Glenmore is a meeting point for residents, and a fun way to raise funds for the local neighbourhood watch.
AN initiative started by the Glenmore/Umbilo Neighbourhood Watch 14 years ago has grown in leaps and bounds.
According to Wally Coombe, chairperson of the watch, come rain, shine and gale force wind, the watch lights a braai to cook boerewors rolls, which are sold to the community every Friday night from 4.30pm.
“This is a very close-knit community and we decided 14 years ago to start selling the boerie rolls at the watch base at the local shop, which is a focal point in the community where everyone meets. We bought our first three radios from the proceeds of our braais when we first started. It is a great way to raise funds to help us operate in the community,” said Wally.
He said there were a lot of die-hards who came to buy their boerie rolls on a Friday, and said they always well supported by community, as well as taxi drivers who run their route and then stop on their way past to buy boerie rolls.
“We get quality boerewors from Dirks and the rolls are very popular! Our braais are a big thing now and make people happy. Around 60 per cent of our buyers are students in the area,” he said.
Pat Foyle, the big driving force behind the braai, said: “If you are committed to something you either go at it full steam ahead, or forget it! This initiative has worked well,” she said.
Wally said the initiative was something other watches and forums in the area could learn from.
“We encourage other areas to take up the challenge and start a similar initiative. It makes such a difference in getting to know the community,” he said.
The watch currently has 45 dedicated patrol members who man the radios 24/7, ready to respond to incidents in the area.
