Denis Hurley Centre reopens after unrest

DUE to looting and unrest in Durban, the Denis Hurley Centre was forced to close their doors last week. As they open their doors this week, the centre is preparing to feed 500 homeless and vulnerable people in the city. While the centre usually prepares 300 meals, they are anticipating an additional 200 people in need after last week’s unrest, said director for the centre, Raymond Perrier. He said the extra meals will be easily catered for this week following a donation from SPAR.

“We are conscious that the level of need in Durban is now even greater than before. Jobs were scarce before Covid-19, the pandemic has made things worse, and now even more jobs have been lost. We cannot do everything and cannot help everyone; but we aim to do what we can, with the resources that we have,” said Perrier.

“We re-started our feeding programme on Tuesday (July 20), aiming to cook 500 hot lunches a day and serve them to homeless people. To do this we need volunteers; so please let us know if you can help. We also need to be able to source ingredients. We appreciate that the break in food supplies is affecting everyone in the city. But if you can help with donations, or enable us to buy items, please get in touch. We need perishables (potatoes, onions and cabbages); and non-perishables (sugar beans, rice, cooking oil, baked beans, maize meal and samp),” said Perrier.

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Menelisi Luthuli, Marketing Executive at SPAR KZN, said:”Last week The SPAR KZN Distribution Centre was temporarily closed to ensure the safety of our staff. During this period, whilst we were unable to deliver to our stores, our perishables stock was at risk of being short dated. We saw this as an opportunity to turn what could have been a substantial waste of food, into a positive. SPAR KZN partnered with The Denis Hurley Centre and donated this stock to their feeding scheme where it could be better utilised to feed our communities in need.”

A group of volunteers were hard at work peeling carrots and preparing other vegetables on Tuesday.

Also read: Support Denis Hurley flagship project

“It’s important to do our bit. When you are doing something to help make things better, it makes you feel better within yourself after the trauma you have gone through,” said Musgrave resident, Monique Bray who was among the team.

“We are not the only ones who have gone through trauma. All of us have a duty to come together,” added Clare Estate resident, Cheyenne Naidoo.

The DHC clinic has also reopened, focusing on those who need daily medication and providing urgent primary healthcare.