Dog’s death leads to women’s group reaching out to the community

A group of women recently opened their hearts to the kids from Bethany House by donating school shoes and other goodies.

This was not their first outreach, as the inspirational story behind these kind hearts started in July last year with a woman named Elize Botha.

She told the News that she was admitted to hospital in July last year with Covid-19. While in hospital, her beloved Pekingese went missing and she was devastated.

“While lying in hospital, helpless and desperate, I posted his photos on all the lost pets Facebook pages. I pleaded with everyone please to assist in finding him as my hands were tied.”

Then people started reaching out to her on Facebook. “People that I have never met in my life assisted my friends and family every day, roaming the streets to look for him.”

Five days later while still in hospital she received the news that her dog had been found but had unfortunately died.

Elize wanted to celebrate his life and promised that she would give back in his honour because of the many people who spontaneously helped her when she needed it.

“Strangers who don’t know me at all assisted me.”

She has a crafting and sewing business called Crafterina on the side, and started off by raffling products from her business on her Facebook group. She explained what the goal was and said the response was tremendous.

She managed to raise R3 600 which she donated to the 9th Day animal shelter as they were the ones who helped to look for her dog.

Soon she did a second raffle and managed to raise R4 000. One lady contributed knitted socks and one of Elize’s friends, Sharon Froneman asked if she and her sister could join the cause. Elize told all her friends about the fundraiser, who in turn told their friends.

“They all wanted to be part of this initiative and there was no hesitation.”

They started their group with eight women and a WhatsApp group. They named themselves ‘Sisters with a greater purpose’ and among the eight of them managed to raise money which they used to buy Christmas gifts for the elderly.

In their own capacity Annemarie Moolman, Sharon Froneman, Vanessa Cullingworth, Martie van der Walt, Grietha Koekemoer, Magda Gibhart, Dawn Engelbrecht and Elize bought groceries to the value of R50 000 and donated everything to the Emmanuel Old Age Home in Oatlands.

“We left with tears in our eyes as the gratitude and appreciation the recipients showed was overwhelming.”

Today their group has grown to 15 members and together they managed to raise R7 000 which they used to buy 73 pairs of school shoes for the children of the Bethany House. The group of ladies also bought an additional 23 pairs.

On January 8 the children of Bethany House were treated to sweets and cold drinks, and had the opportunity to admire some custom cars that one of the sponsors, Old Skool Customs, brought when they donated the shoes.

“This is what makes life worth while and we are humbled that people would support our cause. I want to thank each and every person from the bottom of my heart for giving their support, service, funds and resources. My little peke lost his life but his memory will be cherished forever through this cause. Watch this space … We are going to do great things!”