Orphan Fund tackles poverty

The North Coast Courier Orphan Fund committee met on May 23 to make the fund’s quarterly allocations.

The money raised (and distributed) during the months February to April is reflected in the adjacent table. This quarter was a particularly lean time for the Orphan Fund.

To meet the regular quarterly obligations of the fund, money had to be drawn back from the Orphan Funds Bursary Fund where extra monies raised are used for the tuition and support of young adults. Those who qualify for tertiary study but are not in a position to pay the fees needed for post school study. In some cases students who have qualified for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to study at universities are assisted by the fund with food and accommodation. We are currently assisting two students at the University of Zululand, one studying animal husbandry and one studying law.

The fund is also assisting two nursing students and a trainee priest with their tuition fees. The Bursary Fund can also be used for adding a bit of joy where possible. Recently Sugar Bay sponsored a week’s holiday camp for two young girls from Summerhill House in Etete. The Bursary Fund sponsored their pocket money for this time.

The figures below reflect some of the monies raised at the very enjoyable Pumpkin Theatre evening so generously supported by service clubs and locals. This was held on May 8, and raised R23,000 altogether, the complete income and expenses of which will be included in the next quarterly allocation.

We are so grateful for the ongoing generous support of the local community for this worthwhile outreach project. The Umhlali Monday Bridge Club is a regular contributor – here they have donated R500. Thank you too to the Christmas Fair Fund for their ongoing support. We received a very generous R15,000 from the Christmas Fair this quarter. Our faithful overseas supporters in the form of Ledbury Parish in England contributed R7,500.

The Orphan Fund is registered as a non-profit organisation and has also been approved by the Receiver of Revenue for tax exemption. This means that donors can receive a tax deduction on donations made. (North Coast Courier Orphan Fund bank details: ABSA branch: 630229, Acct No: 9109572488). The money raised by the fund is distributed quarterly to orphan feeding schemes, for food parcels and school bus fare.

The Fund’s latest project is the annual Soup, Socks and Snuggles campaign, to ease the lives of children during the cold winter months. So when you are out grocery shopping don’t forget to add a couple of tins and packets of soup to your basket and leave them in the Orphan Fund collection boxes as you leave the shop. BBS Mica has donated sturdy boxes for this purpose and Zap Signs have sponsored the bright branding, so you can’t miss them. Collection points are at Lifestyle Superspar, Pick’nPay and Checkers in Ballito and at Tiffany’s in Umhlali. The Lockeroom Gym as well as local schools are also collecting soup, socks and other warm winter items.

JULY 2003 – MAY 8, 2014

Income –  R 2 311 985.00 Allocations –  R 2 277 346.07 Balance (Closing) –  R 34 638.93

JANUARY 2014 – MAY 8, 2014

INCOME:

Anonymous donations –  R 12 463.76 Interest received –  R 20.00 Ledbury Parish  –  R 7 500.00 Umhlali Bridge Club –  R 500.00 Christmas Fair Fund  –  R 15 000.00 Pumpkin Theatre Evening –  R 28 900.00 Bursary Fund – R 15 000.00

TOTAL    R 79 383.76  

ALLOCATIONS:

Food parcels  – R 25 260.00 Bread for Life  –  R 8 000.00 Usizo – KwaDukuza –   R 1000.00 St Phillip Feeding Scheme –  R 5 000.00 Destiny Life – Orphan Care –  R 5 229.00 St Vincent de Paul Feeding Scheme –  R 4 000.00 Practising Christian Outreach Trust –  R 2 850.00 Bank Costs –  R 24.30

TOTAL:     R 51 363.30