Help bring Christmas to the kids
Melodie van Brakel have sent a mail asking the community to help make Christmas a better time for the less fortunate children in our community. See how you can help.
When people hear the name Melodie van Brakel, they know exactly who it belongs to – the woman who fights for those who cannot fend for themselves.
In an email Melodie is calling on the generous community of Krugersdorp to open their hearts and help. Every year her organisation, The Cradle of Hope, collects Christmas gifts for abused, traumatised, orphaned, sick, HIV positive and socially disadvantaged babies, toddlers and teenagers.
As a non-profit organisation they do not receive any funding from the government. Melodie explained that in order for them to make Christmas a special time for the children in their care, they need the community’s help.
She asked that people do not spend more than between R300 and R350 and that they buy age-appropriate items for the children. These include a new toy, a puzzle, a new T-shirt, new shorts, a new skirt, new shoes, toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, face cloth, bar of soap, deodorant, roll-on, shampoo and conditioner for the older children), a packet of sweets (please no chocolate as it sometimes melts in the box and creates a huge mess), perhaps a colouring book and some pencils or crayons, stationery for school-going children, a school bag, a small story book, a notepad for the older children, a pair of socks, a towel or anything else.
“Many of our children have requested a school bag instead of toys,” she said.
She also asked that the gifts be wrapped in a covered shoe box or gift packet, but that the boxes are not sealed. Because of previous party disasters they need to check the boxes to ensure that the gifts are suitable before handing them out to the children.
“Please write the name of the child and the child’s age on the gift wrapping or on the bag or box in which you deliver the gift.”
If you want to help, email Melodie at melodie@thecradleofhope.org for a list of the children who still need presents.
Left-over presents are saved and used as birthday gifts in the following year.
“Please do not commit to providing a gift and then not honour your commitment,” she asked, seeing that this has happened in the past and left the children devastated.
Gifts can be delivered or couriered to The Cradle of Hope, 37 Dekker Street, Krugersdorp West, and need to be delivered before 10 December. Gifts can also be delivered at 40 Nellie Street in Krugersdorp West.
The News has seen the list and there are still about 100 children without a gift for Christmas.
There are similar projects for their House of Restoration, the Tower of Life women’s shelter and Tower of Life men’s shelter, if someone wishes to bless them with a small gift as well.
