Reiger Park Crisis Centre continues its good work despite setbacks

The Reiger Park Crisis Centre needs your support to continue its mission to make a difference in the lives of many less-fortunate and hungry families in Reiger Park and the nearby informal settlements.

The centre manager, Elaine Appies, said since the arrival of Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdowns, the organisation experienced a spike in its beneficiaries. More and more people, who never used to queue for food, are forced to join the queues to get a meal or food parcels.

“The impact of the pandemic has created a crisis that is deeply felt in many poor communities, including Reiger Park and the informal settlements we serve.
“With the food we get from the Department of Social Development and donations from various sponsors, we can give out food parcels to our vetted beneficiaries at least once per quarter of the year. We call on businesses and organisations to help us help more hungry families.”
Those interested in assisting the NPO may contact the centre manager Elaine on 072 127 9090.

Thank you
Appies thanked the organisation’s dedicated donors and partners for their continued support and pointed out that without them the NPO would not be able to support the residents it serves.
One of the benefiting families, Menzile Maphambana and his wife Nokuthula Nkosi of Joe Slovo informal settlement, thanked the NPO and its team as well as the sponsors for opening their hearts to the poor.
“We are unemployed and without this help, I don’t know how we and our three little children will survive,” said Menzile.

Response to the food crisis
As part of its mission to alleviate hunger in the area, the Reiger Park-based organisation established a community garden intending to produce vegetables and distribute them to the vulnerable beneficiaries.

According to one of the gardeners, Harry Jacobs, this is only one aspect of a holistic intervention in tackling hunger in the area.
To accomplish its mission and ensure that no resident goes hungry, the organisation wants to work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to establish family gardens in people’s households.
Jacobs, however, stated that the community garden, including the planned project to establish family gardens, needs strong financial support and donations of materials.
“We appeal to individuals and organisations including businesses to support our initiative.”

As part of this community project, a group of youngsters was recently taken to a short learning programme in agriculture to empower themselves to feed their own families. During the event in Magaliesburg, attendees also learned about biodiversity and why it matters. They also had the opportunity to explore the area of outstanding scenic beauty, rich history and recreation.

Major setback
It was also revealed that even though the community garden is located next to the police station, it is not spared from the city’s scourge of crime as criminals and vandals regularly strip the facility of its much-needed equipment.

Thieves broke into the property at least four times this year to steal items including the garden tools and the irrigation system’s copper pipes and damaged the water pump. In some incidents, the thieves even stole food from the storeroom.
Management pointed out that efforts have been made to improve security to catch the perpetrators, but the NPO still needs support to implement enhanced security measures to safeguard this community asset.

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