Herfsland Home festival celebrates community spirit

Herfsland Home for the Aged recently hosted its annual festival to give back to the community and support local vendors.

Residents, family, friends, and staff gathered for a Saturday filled with food, clothing, jewellery, and entertainment.

Stalls offered a variety of clothes, food, and handcraft items, including smoothies, slushes, pancakes, and meat. Entertainment was provided for children, teenagers, and adults.

ALSO READ: Kempton Park residents invited to Herfsland Home festival

“The festival started many years ago, long before I was first involved in its management,” said Herfsland Home for the Aged board of control chairman Gerhard Marais.

“It is an annual event held on the last Saturday of August. We do it for different reasons, the first being to give back to the community. We are totally dependent on the community.

“The community’s older people stay here, and we want to provide them with care and dignity because without the community, we are dead in the water.”

Marais added that the event also serves as a marketing opportunity to remind the public of the facility’s presence. “Our sustainable long-term survival depends heavily on our occupation rates. The biggest reason is that we cannot always rely on the state subsidy.

ALSO READ: Herfsland Home for the Aged annual fête returns on August 30

“We do receive a state subsidy, for which we are extremely thankful, and we comply with everything and work with them, but we never know whether state funds will remain available.”

The festival was filled with attendees, with children enjoying activities and families spending time with residents. Other families and friends used the occasion to bond and create memories.

“My grandmother is staying here, and we came to support her and the other residents,” said Anzelle Havenga.

“It is good to see the elders and the community coming together. The festival is good, we are enjoying ourselves, and there is a lot to see and do. One thing that stood out for me is the food. Everyone is going for the food, and it is amazing, especially the curry and rice.”

Kempton Square Pick n Pay supported the facility’s annual festival by providing bottled water, boerewors, and rolls.

ALSO READ: Herfsland Home for the Aged annual fête returns on August 30

The contribution helped provide refreshments for residents and visitors while creating a positive experience for the elderly community.

“Kempton Square was motivated to support the old-age shelter as part of its annual festival as a way of giving back to the elderly community and extending care and support beyond the shopping centre,” expressed One Property Holdings general manager Loekie Scheun.

“Our support for the shelter began through our Nelson Mandela Day initiative, which gave us an opportunity to better understand the shelter’s needs and identify practical ways in which Kempton Square could provide ongoing support.”

Scheun added that it was important to support their ‘Golden Stars’ because the elderly community deserves to feel recognised, cared for, and appreciated. They remain a valued part of the community.

ALSO READ: Herfsland Old Age Home holds annual spring walk

Scheun expressed hope that their contribution brought comfort and enjoyment to the residents, noting that Kempton Square aims to build on this relationship and continue supporting initiatives that positively impact the elderly community.

Kempton Square plans to continue supporting the shelter where possible, as well as exploring opportunities to assist other community initiatives aligned with their commitment to giving back.