Donations pour in for women
BROADACRES – NPO calls out to the community to donate to families affected by a fire that destroyed shacks and belongings.
After a fire broke out in an informal settlement in Kya Sands on 3 May, a Broadacres-based non-profit organisation answered the call for donations to community members who had been affected.
The Rare Bear Project was launched by Rare Diseases South Africa and works to provide income opportunities to women from Kya Sands. A number of the women who are a part of the project were affected by the fire.
Project manager for the Rare Bear Project, Megan Hunter said 45 women currently worked in the project and had alerted her to their current situation following the fire. She had been working with the women for the past five years.
She said, “We don’t know much, unfortunately [about the fire], and neither do the people that stay there. They just said that early on Monday morning last week [3 May] they were alerted to a fire and they grabbed their children before rushing outside to the road.
“The ladies who I spoke to said they think it was from somebody cooking but they can’t be sure. Unfortunately, they do not have electricity in their shacks so they use gas or an open fire to cook their food.”
Hunter said a number of community members and organisations have provided assistance for the Kya Sands residents. “So far, we have had clothing, baby necessities, feminine hygiene products and some duvets donated. People have been so kind and really opened their hearts to these families.
“Families have lost everything – from clothing and linen to furniture, food and cooking utensils. We would welcome any donations that can help to keep the families warm and safe.”
Hunter said she collected items created by the women in the project in Kya Sands every Friday. People who would like to assist are welcome to drop items off at the Rare Bear Project offices in Broadacres or go with Hunter to Kya Sands.
Details: Rare Bear Project hello@rarebearproject.org
