Sharing a vision and spreading the love

Every morning Lynett Day, Operations manager of Vision 153 wakes up with one goal in mind: to put an end to the abject plight of the poor.

Bravely stepping into the big shoes of the organisation’s founder, Linda Primmer who lost her battle to breast cancer in 2008, Lynett strives to use the organisation as a means to touch as many lives as possible despite the great need.

The name Vision 153 is derived from a Bible verse where Simon Peter drew a net full of fish (153) to the shore, the verse reads, “..and although there were so many fish, the net was not torn.” Lynett said that the organisation will try to help as many people as possible despite all the challenges they face.

“I am a cash accountant by profession. Previously, I was always involved with the church and I helped people along with other church members.

I then moved to Ballito and joined Linc church. I found that I had a passion for helping people and I quit my job. It was a huge drop in salary but the reward is far greater.

When I joined Vision 153, Linda, the founder had cancer, she passed on within a month of me joining. After three months, I was diagnosed with the same breast cancer as Linda,” said Lynett.

She underwent treatment and multiple surgeries while still keeping Linda’s legacy alive.

Distributing 4.4 tons of food a month to more than 1000 beneficiaries in Stanger, Groutville, Etete, Shakaskraal, Salt Rock, Tongaat, Westbrook and Verulam, the organisation is now responsible for feeding 1377 people and they estimate 10 000 people a month by 2020.

“It is not always easy. I have been in remission for a year now and it is my faith that keeps me going. I want to help people. You visit townships where people do not have food and although we would like to help, our resources are often limited. I sometimes just cry because I feel so helpless. We once received a call from one of our beneficiaries and I knew that we did not have enough food to deliver to them.

“Distraught, I burst into tears. One of the young men who the organisation rescued from drug abuse, came up to me and said “Gogo, don’t cry, just pray”. And so I did, and I always will. When the going gets tough I repeat those words.”

Lynett understands that the depth of poverty experienced locally is a far cry from how it is perceived, that what many deem a necessity, like water, electricity, transport, food and education, are luxuries for so many.

“We stand for the forgotten, the widows and orphans left behind, those without a voice, those abused and rejected. We stand for those who cannot stand for themselves,” she said.

One of Vision 153’s main challenges is to get a larger vehicle and they are in need of donations of dry food like beans and samp as well as canned items that can sustain people for the days when we don’t deliver food.

The North Coast Courier Orphan Fund supports Vision 153 with a quarterly donation of dry foods.

Contact Lynette at 082 553 6365.

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