Multi Charities take giving to new heights

Multi Charities, run by the doyenne of charitable fundraising in the greater Roodepoort region, Averille Botha, had a bumper year in 2024, managing to raise in excess of R300 000 for the various charities they support.

The Roodepoort Record caught up with Averille at her ever-popular nursery, Flowers Seeds and Busy Bees, in Lockies Lane to discuss the year that was as well as her charitable plans for 2025.

“I firstly have to thank every person and organisation that donated to our charity shops and supported our events in 2024,” says Averille, who despite her advanced age always seems like she is bursting with energy.

“We know that times are tough for people and we feel truly blessed that they still choose to support us and the important work we do.

“The money we raise every year goes such a long way toward making our society a better one,” she says, adding that they’ve even received generous donations from charities themselves.

“Whenever they have excess, they donate it to the charity shops from where we sell the products and raise the funds that we use in our annual donations.”

Averille has been running her charity shops in the Florida CBD and in Discovery for more than 40 years, and has, in that time, raised millions for the nearly 20 charities that she supports.

Charities supported include old age and frail care facilities, children’s homes and shelters, rehabilitation centres, cancer associations and much more.

“It is wonderful to see how local charities are now working together and supporting each other instead of competing.”

Averille plans to redouble her fund-raising efforts in 2025. “I can’t stop,” she says. “I see the difference that we are making and it motivates me to do even more.”

Multi Charities holds their monthly open meetings every third Monday of the month at 2pm and she invites residents who want to know more to attend.

For more information, call Averille on 082 808 6177.