First responders journey to aid the ‘homeless’ during winter
“We see families suffering, children, men and women. They are struggling against the elements.”
As the month of July has kicked off, emergency first responders have embarked on a drive to distribute 4 000 blankets to the homeless in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Spokesperson of the cause Altus Venables said 1 000 blankets had already been distributed to the homeless in Pretoria West, Montana Park and the Pretoria Moot areas.
Venables said responders Firstassist, First Help and Emer-G-med had planned to distribute the blankets to the homeless through their towing and medical network in the province.
The blankets were distributed to anyone in need of towing operators and medical emergency personnel services.
He said given the current pandemic and the cold season endured by many locked in their homes, people on the street were forgotten.
“This winter has been especially brutal with freezing conditions across Gauteng. While most are keeping warm indoors, tow truck drivers and medical personnel are exposed to the harsh reality affecting thousands of people living on the streets, who are using plastic sheets and cardboard boxes to keep warm.”
Emer-G-med CEO Wayne Grindell said as respondents, their offices were in the streets of Pretoria.
“When we see someone in need of warmth and compassion, we’ll offer a blanket. It’s a small, random act of kindness that illustrates that we see you and we want to help.”
Firstassist CEO Diana Brophy said, “we see families suffering, children, men and women”.
“They are struggling against the elements.”
She said as first responders, they saw a need to uplift the areas in which they worked.
“We had to do something to assist,” Brophy said.
She said with the blankets, they were hoping to help the homeless community through their towing and medical network in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Clint Spolander and Hennie Muller, joint operations directors of First Help, said this was a small gesture, however, “we have no doubt that it will be a welcomed one”.
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