Fontainebleau resident lends a helping hand to survivors of the shack fire
The children now have school clothes thanks to a Fontainebleau resident who reached out to the family.
“When I saw the story about the family of six in Itsoseng whose shack caught fire and had their belongings destroyed, in the Randburg Sun newspaper about three weeks ago, I knew I had to help them,” said Valerie du Plessis, who stepped up to assist.
Esther Dimakatso Simon, a mother of six from Itsoseng, lost her blankets, couches, children’s school uniforms, books, microwave, stove, bed, television, laptop, printer, food, and clothing cabinet after her shack caught fire on June 22.
Following that, Du Plessis, who hails from Fontainebleau, explained that after reading the article, she decided to reach out and lend a helping hand.
“My heart went out to this family, the fact that they lost the children’s school stationery, like a laptop and school books, I couldn’t help but think all this year’s hard work, now they have lost it all,” she said.
Du Plessis then took the family to shopping on July 19 to replace some of the items they lost in the fire.
“I bought two schoolbags, shirts, socks, underclothes for two schoolchildren, a girl and a boy, and pajamas for the two-year-old, as well as socks for the mother,” she told the Randburg Sun.
When asked how she felt about being able to help the family, she said, “I felt so glad, because having no clothes is harmful, especially for a girl, because it takes away her dignity.”
Simon expressed her gratitude, “I would not have received the assistance that I got if it was not for the Randburg Sun newspaper.”
“I was still struggling to figure out what they were going to wear to school because their school uniforms were burnt.”
With a smile on her face, she added, “I have no words to express how grateful I am, especially for everything; it really means a lot, and I just wish that she can continue to help others who are desperately in need.”
Du Plessis said that she intends to assist the family again and urged others to assist with what they have as it will take time for them to recover.
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