‘Adopt’ a child and change a life

Schools are set to start next month after quite a long break. Many children and parents can’t wait, while others are dreading that first day of school for various reasons, especially where finances are concerned.

A large number of parents do not know how they’re going to pay for the long list of supplies and other costs they need to cover, usually all at once.

Going through the list of necessities sent out by schools, you might be shocked to realise just how expensive it can get.

Cross Connect Community Outreach (CCCO) recently started a programme they call Adopt-A-Child, Change-A-Life where members of the community can opt to ‘adopt’ a school learner and pay for his/ her basic school needs.

Kyle Tolman, CCCO executive director explained that they take care of 100 children and the costs amount to about R2 500 per child. That amount would allow them to pay for, among other things, school uniforms (which can easily range from R800 to R1 500), pens, pencils, blank paper, glue, scissors, pacers, exam pads, toilet paper, wet wipes and tissues (applicable to primary school learners). On top of everything, CCCO needs to pay for workbooks every quarter and finance registration fees.

“The big thing is we haven’t even budgeted for this. We have to collect about R250 000 during a pandemic when we can’t hold fundraising events,” he said, adding that these costs were in the back of their heads the entire time, but that they simply had too many other expenses and had already spent about a R1 million on food this financial year to feed the many struggling families under their care.

CCCO is appealing to the community to either buy and hand in the items to their office, or to donate money with which CCCO can buy everything and hand it out to the learners in need.

Funds can be paid into their bank account, of which the details can be requested by calling 079 491 4404 or 010 100 0075. Donations can be dropped off at their office in Silverfields.