Jacaranda gives love to Thembalami
In order to raise funds for women living at Thembalami Care Centre, Alex McMaster of Jacaranda FM hosted a fundraising campaign at Greenstone shopping centre.
The Hugs for Mommies campaign saw McMaster charging patrons of the mall R5 for a hug. All proceeds from the day went to the Lombardy East-based retirement village.
The radio personality, popularly known as Arod, raised just more than R2 000 which was subsequently rounded off to R5 000 by Jacaranda FM.
The station’s Martin Bester and his team conceived the idea to ensure that women who live at the centre, which looks after financially and physically vulnerable senior citizens, enjoyed a tea party in celebration of Mother’s Day.
One of the women who queued for a hug was René Simpson of Edenvale, who gave a R100 donation. Simpson also hopes to volunteer her time at the retirement centre. She said she planned on visiting the centre regularly to offer hand massages and other feel-good therapies to the residents.
Complex manager at Thembalami, Elize Raath expressed her appreciation of the initiative.
She said, “Martin and Arod not only helped raise money but did so by donating their time in a public space, thereby helping to raise awareness of Thembalami. Many of our residents exist only on a government grant and depend on the goodwill of the public for life’s little extras. These gentlemen gave our care centre exposure on the radio station and their presence at Greenstone on Saturday helped raise our profile even further in the community.”
