Local Mr SA finalist shares #Shineon strides
#Shineon started with the food project that Express covered since the first few weeks of lockdown which was completely open to the public.
Local Mr SA finalist Hannes van der Walt updated the community on his #Shineon project through which his team has relieved the need for food in Kempton Park.
“We’re planning to continue with #Shineon, since it’s my own project that I’m running alongside the Mr SA campaign and would like to keep contributing to the good of the community,” said Hannes.
He told the Express that they hand out 60 food parcels every two weeks; one parcel can feed up to six people.
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“Since the start of lockdown, we’ve been able to donate 1 200 food parcels of which one food parcel is worth between R800 to R900.
“This amounts to nearly 6 000 people we’ve been able to feed in all this time with #Shineon.”
He emphasised his appreciation towards Hoërskool Kempton Park as they now form a big part of #Shineon, and thanks to their help with the food project, the monetary donations in their account raked up to R50 000.
“We only take funds necessary from the account to fill up parcels that are not complete. If food donations start drying up, we will then start using the funds remaining in the account.”
#Shineon started with the food project that Express covered since the first few weeks of lockdown which was completely open to the public.
As lockdown progressed, #Shineon started focusing on schools, like Hoërskool Kempton Park’s broodjieprojek, to which Hannes and his team started funnelling relief.
“My wife, Natasha, has been a tremendous help with this project, driving to-and-fro Kempton Hoër, making sure that remaining necessities are bought to complete parcels which we make up ourselves.
“We have new volunteers every week as a lot of parents from the school not only donate, but also spend time to support us in compiling the parcels at the school.
“Once our teams are done with compilations, the beneficiaries come pick it up at Kempton Hoër.”
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Hannes talked about Youth Day on June 16 in which he told this story that further opened his eyes as to how initiatives like #Shineon can expose lingering needs in one’s own community.
“It was one of those snowy-cold days on Youth Day, when we initially aimed to stay indoors, bake pancakes and curl-up in front of a movie with our children.
“Natasha then received a message from a mother who said she was absolutely desperate.
“We always keep at least one food parcel in our house, in case we hear of someone in need and we’re not able to access the school grounds.
“Although I wanted to urge her to give herself a break, Natasha insisted that she felt she had to go to this family.”
Natasha took the standby parcel in their home and delivered it to the needy family in Rietfontein Road.
“As she arrived at the house, the mother and her little daughter were standing outside in the rain in pure anticipation for this parcel.
Hannes’ wife then shared a video in the car with teary eyes as she reached out to the community in Afrikaans by saying that people need to open their eyes and realise how blessed they are.
“I know these times are so uncertain and we cling to the things we do have. But we have to realise how people so near to us are suffering in silence. Please open your eyes and heart to those down your own street that might have dire needs.
“Extend their need for the day, be it bread or meat, something you have in your food dispensary and provide where you can.”
As the need for food in Kempton Park persists, the #Shineon food project will keep its drive.
However, Hannes said he would have to hand over the project to Hoërskool Kempton Park as he wants #Shineon to evolve and serve other needs.
Stay tuned to Hannes’ Mr SA Facebook pages and his #Shineon page to find out what wonderful new adventures he aims to embark on.
If Kemptonians know of a specific need that needs drastic attention this winter season, Hannes extends an invitation for new ideas and suggestions on his #Shineon page.
Visit https://www.facebook.com/ShineOnProjects/ to raise awareness for Hannes to decide on a new project.
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