VEREENIGING – The St. James Development Organisation, under the St. James Christian Church, delivered the second instalment of the Family Shopping Day, a gesture geared towards restoring the dignity of needy community members through the opportunity to shop for items of clothing at no cost.

It is an event that Archbishop Tumelo Mokoena believes personifies the theme “Love, Dignity, and Hope.”

“We are deliberate in choosing that as the motto for the St. James Development Organisation because we are about giving people love and not just by spoken word. It is very easy to profess to believe in love without action. So we distinguish ourselves by not only preaching love, but practising it. Because on this day, we have in mind not ourselves but the community, the children of God, people who are less privileged than most of us, to whom we are giving clothing, food, and drinks for free.

Mokoena explained that the idea of ‘shopping’ is just a name because people are not expected to pay anything for what they are receiving.

“Love is important to us, and we are sustained by love. As we approach the festive season, we want to contribute to the families who are less privileged than us by giving them these items.”
He added that many people have been told repeatedly that there is no future for them, that it is over for them, messages that often fuel self-doubt.

“We are saying it is not over until God says it is over.”

Mokoena encouraged those wondering how they will survive this festive season to keep believing in a better tomorrow. He also shared words of appreciation for Bishop Sankie Joseph Mokoena, who brought the idea to life, envisioning a space where acts of kindness could restore dignity to those living in poverty.

Toys were also donated, bringing excitement and smiles to children. Church members distributed books, paving a way to encourage reading and promote literacy from a young age, helping to nurture bright futures.

One of the shoppers from the June Family Shopping Day shared a heartfelt testimony about how the event had benefited her. She encouraged everyone to take what they need without feeling any shame, reinforcing that the event helps uplift the community and bring unity.