A few embroidered face cloths may not sound like the beginning of something significant, but for Hotel Hope, they became the first thread in a relationship that has continued to grow.

It started in early 2025, when Joanne Speedy connected with Hotel Hope through the Key School for Autism in Parktown, where four of the organisation’s children attend. Speedy offered to personalise face cloths with each child’s name – a gesture that quickly became a source of delight.
“The children absolutely love finding their own named face cloth at bath time,” said Oliver Quambusch, founder and CEO of Hotel Hope. “It was one of those simple ideas that brought a lot of joy.”

Read more: Melville;s Hotel Hope Interiors change family heirlooms into fresh hope

For Speedy, the idea came from identifying a need and realising she could do something about it. “I saw a need with so many children to give them something personalised. I had a solution.”

The warm response encouraged her to keep returning. On one visit to the children’s home, one of the girls spontaneously started a concert for her. It was a moment that left Speedy emotional and strengthened her connection with the organisation. From there, the giving grew. Speedy helped provide children with socks, underwear, and onesies before winter. She then noticed another need – Hotel Hope’s caregivers, affectionately known as the Aunties, were regularly dealing with food spills, baby spit-up, and the everyday mess that comes with caring for young children.

She responded by making denim aprons embroidered with their names and the Hotel Hope logo. The idea eventually extended to shop staff, drivers, and the gardener, followed by hoodies for the wider team.

For Hotel Hope, the impact went beyond practicality. The aprons protected staff members’ clothing while they worked, but having their names and the organisation’s logo embroidered on them also gave them a sense of pride and belonging. “They weren’t simply wearing work clothes; they were wearing something that identified them as part of the Hotel Hope team.”

Speedy’s support has also extended to the organisation’s furniture charity shop, where she has donated household items from her own home. What began as a once-off act has become an ongoing practice, something she describes as: “Life is not just about accumulation, but also sharing and helping others in need.”

Also read: Worms bring Wits students to Hotel Hope

Quambusch believes this kind of sustained relationship is one of the most valuable things that can happen between a non-profit and a supporter. Hotel Hope operates far beyond its children’s homes, with a Montessori school, charity shops, drivers, workshops, and support staff all forming part of the organisation. “For Joanne to extend her support, from our social enterprise into the children’s homes, means a lot, because it shows that she understands the bigger picture. She isn’t simply supporting a charity shop; she is supporting the whole Hotel Hope family.”

The needs of an organisation caring for children go far beyond food, clothing, and school fees. There are vehicles to maintain, buildings to repair, equipment to replace, staff to support, and countless everyday details that help create a stable home.

For the children themselves, even the smallest details can matter. “Having something with their own names on it is a lovely reminder that they are seen and valued as individuals.”

For Speedy, meaningful giving is about exactly that – seeing a gap and finding a way to fill it. She hopes more businesses will look at what they already have to offer, whether that is food, stock, repairs, transport, professional services, or simply connections that could open a door for a non-profit.

Her own experience has shown her that generosity can spread. After telling others about Hotel Hope’s work, she has received donations from people who wanted to contribute children’s clothes, toys, and items for the charity shops.

What started with a handful of personalised face cloths has therefore become something much larger: A relationship that has brought practical help, dignity, and joy to people across Hotel Hope.

For Quambusch, that is what meaningful community support looks like. “It means that we don’t feel like we are doing this work alone.”

Perhaps that is the greatest ripple of all – when giving stops being a once-off transaction and becomes a relationship built on seeing a need, responding to it, and continuing to show up.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!