Tops and tags are a treasure
PARKTOWN – This non-profit foundation welcomes donations in the form of specific tops and tags to recycle and in turn purchase wheelchairs.
Reusing and recycling are definitely top of the Sweethearts Foundation’s objective. The 100 per cent non-profit organisation has one of its collection points in Parktown. According to Sweethearts Foundation Johannesburg area representative Jessica Gordon, the organisation is run by volunteers who juggle work, family and helping others.
“We do as much as we can to help those less fortunate and we pride ourselves on being 100 per cent non-profit and 100 per cent volunteer-based, which means we don’t draw salaries, have offices or have vehicles at our disposal as we use every cent from recycling to purchase much-needed wheelchairs for our beneficiaries,” Gordon said.
She added that the foundation was established in 2013 on Valentine’s Day when the first wheelchair was handed over to the first beneficiary. The foundation believes that a wheelchair should be recognised as a basic human right and that anyone who is in need of one should have one.
The Sweethearts Foundation collects plastic bottle tops and bread tags, recycles them and uses the funds from recycling to purchase wheelchairs for those in need. Gordon said the bottle tops and bread tags are two different types of plastic and are sent to different recycling partners.
“It is imperative that these two forms of plastic are separated and stored in clearly marked boxes or bags to ensure that they get sent to the correct recycling partners. Not all bottle tops are acceptable and tops that come from products like fabric softener containers, peanut butter jars, toothpaste and medicinal/pill bottles are not acceptable.”
She said beneficiaries come in all shapes and sizes and they might require standard or specialised wheelchairs. Specialised and children’s wheelchairs are extremely costly and this drastically increases the number of tops and tags needed.
Gordon emphasised that it is important that all tops and tags are separated and each donor and collection point must ensure that no foreign objects are included as they damage recycling machines.
People in need of wheelchairs but without the finances to purchase one can apply for one or on behalf of someone else. They will need to submit several documents for review and successful applicants are then added to the waiting list until the foundation has the funding available.
Gordon concluded, “When we have enough funding for a wheelchair, we contact the beneficiary and let them know the great news. From here we start planning a wheelchair handover ceremony which is a small gathering of sweethearts, friends and families.”
To find your closest collection point visit Sweethearts Foundation
Do you think people with disabilities get enough support? Share your thoughts on Facebook at Rosebank Killarney Gazette
Related articles:
