A GLENHILLS baby home providing shelter for abandoned babies is facing closure if it cannot secure financial stability. Rachel Uys of the Ray of Hope (Imisebe Yelanga) Babies Home said the non-profit organisation faces complete closure due to a lack of funding. Uys, who employs four other carers and looks after six babies at any given time said they are at their wit’s end to try to solve the current crisis.

Rachel and her husband, Richard, said they are concerned for the employees working at the home and most importantly for the young babies, the home looks after.

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For the last eight years, Rachel said the home has offered an environment of hope and love for abused, neglected and abandoned babies and toddlers placed in their care. Since its inception, the home has seen 53 adoptions of the babies in their care.

“I think in the last two years the home’s finances have got steadily worse. We do have a debit order base and people who help regularly with donations of nappies and other baby items, unfortunately the harsh reality is that is not enough. Financially is where we are struggling, we now need a miracle from God or have a corporate sponsor to help save us from our predicament,” she explained.

“We’ve been so blessed from residents who have supported us in the past but we are struggling now to be able to pay wages for the wonderful staff who help me out. I can’t afford to tell them there’s going to be a pay cut because they also rely on their salaries to make ends meet. We are at a crossroads, and it is not unfair to say we face total closure,” a visibly upset Rachel said.

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Her husband, Richard, said the Immanuel Church (Somerset Park) supports the baby home with subsidies, but even that was not enough to help keep the home afloat.

“We cannot rely on the church to keep supporting us as they have been through these years. We’ve tried various methods to gain some stability, we’ve had various fundraising initiatives, but that’s not enough to keep us afloat. What I think is the saddest part is, we are not just talking about the workers’ livelihoods here but more importantly the babies we look after. We’ve had 53 babies come through the home and most of the babies have gone to good homes. For us facing closure is heartbreaking as we won’t be able to make an impact in the lives of any abused and abandoned babies,” he explained.

If you are able to help, visit the Ray of Hope Babies Home Facebook page for bank details.

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