Disabled residents can keep home in Birchleigh – for now
Electricity is one of their biggest expenses, as they need to charge their wheelchair batteries. Without it, they cannot move.
Last month, residents of House Otto in Birchleigh feared they might lose their home due to a lack of funds.
Now, thanks to Express readers and other well-doers, these quadriplegic and paraplegic people have raised R31 570, enough to stay in their home for now.
“On behalf of the residents and staff of House Otto, I would like to thank each and every person who made donations,” said centre manager Chantell Venter. “The money enabled us to pay our staff salaries and some bills.”
Also read:
• House for quadriplegics in Birchleigh is desperate for donations
However, this is not a permanent solution, as finances are a constant worry for these residents. “It is very stressful to constantly have to worry about finances and not to know where the next money for our expenses will come from,” said Venter.
According to her, the house needs about R45 000 to cover its expenses each month. At this stage salaries, electricity and their house bond are their biggest expenses. Electricity is one of their most important necessities.
“Quadriplegics and paraplegics are unable to regulate their body temperature,” explains Venter. “We rely heavily on heating in winter and cooling in summer. We also need electricity to charge our wheelchair batteries. If they run flat, we are stuck where we are as we are unable to move.”
Although House Otto has seven trusts that donate money to its cause once a year, they never know how much these organisations will pay or when. “If we could get enough people to give small but regular donations, it will really take some pressure off,” Venter added.
Other than donations to pay their bills, House Otto needs to upgrade its CCTV system and repair their copier machine, a Bizhub 250. They would also like to replace their backdoor, which was damaged by rain, and repaint their palisade fence, as well as parts of the house inside.
Anyone willing to assist House Otto can contact them at quadotto@houseotto.org.za. Their banking details are:
Account name: House Otto Self-Help Centre for Quadriplegics
Account number: 160810327
Account type: ABSA cheque account.
