Friendship garden for excited pensioners

JOHANNESBURG SOUTH  – New Apostolic Church handed over a friendship garden to the Annie Burger Retirement Home in Crown Gardens on September 12.

The church together with SOJO, the City of Johannesburg, Booysens SAPS, Hatfield South Church and the Alcohol and Drug Concerns Unit started cultivating and developing the garden on Mandela Day.

“We took a piece of land that was not being utilized and turned it into a friendship garden that the residents could enjoy with their friends and family. The Annie Burger residents had no place to congregate and spend time together. There were dead logs lying on the ground which the residents used to sit on whilst waiting to be collected by taxis, family and friends for outings, visits and church. The members of the Towerby congregation wanted to give the Annie Burger residents something that would be both beautiful and functional,” said New Apostolic Church Towerby branch representative, Cassandra Ison.

Congregants approached local businesses to assist them with resources to ensure that the garden had all it needed and would be ready in time for spring.

“Shepard Martin Fourie and I would like to send special thanks to Style Construction, Investec Bank Ltd, Old World Concretes, Evergreen Turf (Pty) Ltd, JHB City Parks, Natasha and South Rand Caravan Club, Sally’s Flowers, Pick n Pay Steeldale Hyper and Torch Waterproofing Systems. With the help and assistance from our sponsors, the garden was ready for spring as planned.”

“The residents have been using the garden for social get-togethers, family outings and just a place to get out of their homes and relax. The garden has also added much needed colour and a new dimension to the retirement village,” said Ison.

The team also thanks Annie Burger trustee, Susan Manual and Isak de Langa from the Johannesburg Housing Department for their support as well as the Towerby congregation for their time every Saturday, their donations and support.