Craighall Park family mobilises community to help build home after fire

Losing a home isn’t easy under the best of circumstances, and for Craighall Park residents Winnet Sibanda and her family, having their home gutted by a fire in August has been traumatic.

However, as recently reported in Hope Burns Bright [Week ending August 20, 2021], support from the community immediately following the ordeal helped the family stand strong after the fire. Now, the Glanz family, on whose property the Sibandas live, has started a crowdfunding initiative on BackaBuddy, to raise funds to rebuild the

Wendy house for the family so that they can have a place to call ‘home’ again.

“It has been a hard journey for Winnie and her family since the fire,” said Hanlie Glanz. “Winnie feels responsible for the fire and we feel responsible for the Sibandas. It has not been easy.” She said the Glanz and Sibanda families had been overwhelmed by the generosity the Craighall Park and surrounding communities had shown them, and necessities had been replaced through generous donations given to the Sibandas.Even a mattress and microwave had been donated.

Craighall Park Primary School helped with uniforms and new books and stationery for the children (eight and 14 years). “Unfortunately, our building insurance claim for the Wendy house was rejected, and the Sibandas have had to stay in our garage as their wooden home has been completely destroyed,” said Glanz. “My friend suggested we start a crowdfunding initiative, and we chose BackaBuddy as it is easy to use. We have started an initiative called ‘Help Us Build Winnie’s Wendy’.”

She added that a Wendy house, with one bedroom, one bathroom and a kitchen/lounge, would cost around R65 000. “We have already received monetary donations to put towards this but need a further R55 000 to complete the project.”

Glanz said she and her family, and the Sibandas, had learned from the experience that people were intrinsically good, that kindness could come from unexpected places, and that people really did care and would go out of their way to help in any way that they could. These were valuable truths to take to heart during the challenges of a pandemic.

To the Craighall Park and surrounding communities which assisted the families in their hour of need, the Glanzes and Sibandas say: “Thank you, thank you and thank you.”

Details:https://www.backabuddy.co.za/winnet-sibanda

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