Hockey ladies give back

RIVERSIDE Hockey Club’s ladies’ first team, who are currently KZN Club Champions, showed their compassion by giving back to the local community on Tuesday 30 July.

Cindy Hack, Riverside Hockey Club’s first team captain, coordinated the team handover of a startling amount of various goodies, including clothes, food, blankets and diapers to the La Lucia Baby Home.

The recently opened baby home had appealed to the public through Northglen News to assist them with a wish list of items the home really needed to get the organisation started, as well as other products they would require on an ongoing basis to give the abandoned babies a home with all the necessities to nurture them.

The La Lucia Baby Home officially opened on 17 June 2013, with the founders of the baby’s home, Skip and Sheila Collins, being licensed to care for up to six babies at one time.

This is a manageable size, which means each child has individual holistic care. Their aim is to get all Baby House infants adopted, within a reasonable period, so adoptive parents don’t miss out on milestones such as teething, crawling and walking.

Babies are clothed, fed, medicated, inoculated, and generally fussed over by trained carers and volunteers.

According to Hack, she knew when she first saw the article a few weeks back that it was an initiative her team would be passionate about supporting.

“I thought this was a really great opportunity for the Riverside Ladies first team to get involved in as a team, not only for team bonding when we visit, but also because it’s very much in line with Riverside Hockey Club’s positioning as a community-based club,” Hack said.

“Riverside’s goal is to develop holistic hockey players and much of our on and off the field activities are derived from this objective,” she added.

Once the goods had been donated, appreciative Sheila said: “We are so grateful to Cindy and her team for their visit and for all the wonderful gifts! We are truly humbled by your generosity. Skip and I know we cannot do this on our own, and you have been such an encouragement to us. We pray every night with the staff and the babies that God will prepare a special permanent home for each one of them. We cannot thank them enough for their kindness and generosity.”