THERE are a large number of children and adults in Durban in need of different types of support. Whether it is assistance in obtaining food or priority items, educational support or psychological help, help from a local charity can be the beginning of the solution. Some people may have given up on their search for professional help due to the costs. However, there are plenty of non-governmental organisations and non-profit organisations, apart from the Department of Social Services, in Durban keen to help.

It takes nothing to make a difference in people’s lives. This festive season, reach out to some of your local charities to find out how you can help. Here are a few local charities that you can work with to make a less privileged person’s festive season a bit better:

Community Chest Durban

FOR 90 years, Community Chest has provided support, through donations, sponsorship, and charity events, to non-profit organisations which they refer to as NPO Impact Partners. Community Chest Durban supports 98 Non-Profit Organisations. The focus area of these organisations includes Early Childhood Development, children, youth and family care, and residential care for the elderly and homeless, mentally handicapped, and disabled people. Crime and substance prevention and rehabilitation fall within Community Chest’s fields of support. Emergency cases are also catered for. Community Chest provides a monthly financial commitment to these NPO Impact Partners at the beginning of each financial year.

Ways to get involved:

Donate

Sponsorship and donations are essential for Community Chest to continue to make a difference. All online transactions are processed in South African Rand (ZAR) by Paygate, a certified ‘Verified by Visa’ and ‘Securecode’-enabled payment gateway. For all online transactions, a minimum value of R50 applies. All donations to the Community Chest Section 18A Fund qualify to receive a Tax Deductible Receipt.

Volunteer

Volunteer to assist Community Chest with special projects. Your involvement could range from packing care packs, selling tickets, and working at fundraising events, coordinating projects, and assisting with impact partner initiatives. To do volunteer work, email them today at chestpmb@communitychest.org.za

For more information about this phenomenal organisation, visit their website at https://www.communitychest.co.za/ or contact them at 031 303 3890.

Likhona iThemba Charity Hop Shop

THE Charity Hop Shop opened in Glenwood in 2016 to fundraise for Likhon iThemba – a charity that runs the HOLAH Baby House as well as a feeding scheme, BOP (Bowl of Plenty). The shop is full of interesting goodies, ranging from baby clothes, toys, shoes and other items, as well as books, clothes, shoes, houseware and more. Donations of furniture, bric-a-brac, jewellery, clothes (baby, children’s and adult’s), children’s items, arts and crafts, household items, garden tools, plants, and anything else you may have no use for, are always welcome. All money raised at the shop goes back into charity to look after abandoned babies as well as to assist families in need and crèches in KwaZulu-Natal. For more information on how to support this organisation, contact the Hop Shop at 083 232 5501 or visit the Likhona iThemba at https://likhonithemba.co.za/charity-hop-shop/

The Association for the Aged

TAFTA is a registered non-profit organisation, and public benefit organisation (PBO), that offers a wealth of helpful information, advice and practical support to help you make the most of your golden years. Among other things, Tafta is a major advocate for elder abuse. One of the worst things about elder abuse is that it’s so easy to get away with. Vulnerable elders are helpless against those who attack or prey on them. Often, the abuser is a family member – a child or grandchild – on whom the old person is completely dependent. To complain is to risk further abuse, isolation to prevent any further communication with people who might help, or even abandonment. Tafta also tackles legislation related to older persons and the issue of the government funding gap in aged care. If you would like to donate to Tafta, visit their website for more information at https://taftastg.wpengine.com/ or contact them at 031 332 3721 or email at info@tafta.org.za.

Kerr House: Durban Hospice for Women

KERR House provides a safe haven for abused and destitute women. This shelter for women in crisis was launched in 1951 and is registered as a non-profit organisation under the auspices of the Rectors of St Paul’s and Cyprian Anglican parishes. Kerr House offers a professional support service to women by providing counselling, relief and rehabilitation in partnership with other relevant professional organisations. The Hospice operates 24 hours a day, and most women are admitted to the shelter by referrals from welfare, community and religious organisations. Admission of residents is not based on any religious affiliation. To continue this necessary and essential work, Kerr House needs a database of 1 000 people willing to contribute a minimum of R100 per year. If you are ‘One in a Thousand’, support them by depositing your donation into their bank account. For more information about how to donate, visit https://www.kerrhouse.co.za/index.php or contact them at 031 303 2912 or email at kerrhouse@telkomsa.net.

Child Welfare: Durban and District

AS a non-profit organisation, Child Welfare Durban and District (CWDD) commits itself to working for the cause of justice and ensuring the well-being of children by protecting their rights and promoting their quality of life, as well as that of their families and communities.

Their services are rendered at four levels:

Prevention: This service is provided to families who have children and are in crisis, in order to strengthen and build their capacity and self-reliance to address problems that may occur in the family environment which, if not attended to, may lead to statutory intervention. This includes awareness programmes and education of communities and key role players.

Early Intervention: This service is provided to families where there are children identified as being vulnerable to or at risk of harm or removal into alternative care. This includes counselling, therapy and mediation.

Statutory Services: When early intervention services have not been successful, the child is subject to a children’s court enquiry for statutory placement. Placements are either family/alternate care, foster care, residential care or adoption.

Residential care and Continuum of care: In instances where statutory intervention is necessary, our organisation supervises and monitors the placement of children.

To find out more about how to get involved and contribute to the organisation, visit their website at https://cwdd.org.za/ or contact them at 031 312 9313 or email at info@cwdd.org.za.