Pimville seniors receive wheelchair donations from community foundations
Wheelchair donations bring comfort and independence to Pimville’s senior citizens in a heartwarming community initiative.
The Nhlanhla Tshabalala Foundation (NTF), Tswelopele Senior Citizens (TSC) and the Tsakane Sono Foundation (TSF) came together to answer the plea of senior citizens by donating wheelchairs at the Pimville Community Centre on July 19.
During a Warm4Winter campaign, the NTF and the TSF became aware of the limited mobility of a 91-year-old recipient and their need for a proper wheelchair.
With one of its missions being to address critical gaps in basic needs, healthcare support and youth empowerment, the NTF saw it fit to give back to the community after receiving a donation from TSC and the TSF.
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Promise Njoko, the niece of the 91-year-old Anna Mbambo, thanked the NTF for being a blessing.
“This is not the first time we’ve received help from the foundation, and to say ‘thank you’ is not enough. I am grateful for the proper wheelchair.
They are expensive and we don’t have the funds. God placed the right people in our path. I will now be able to take Gogo to her clinic appointments with ease and confidence,” said a teary Njoko.
TSC centre manager Miso Magutyana said that when they received the wheelchairs from their donors, they immediately thought of the NTF and decided to give back to the community.
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She said, “The NTF donated 32 blankets to senior citizens in our organisation, and this was our way of showing gratitude for what we had received and that we were remembered.
“We also want to say, what God did for us, let us do for someone else, and this is it.”
Nhlanhla Tshabalala, the founder of the NTF, said, “As a way of giving back, we also want to break the stigma around disability or people who do things differently.
“We received requests on social media from beneficiaries who will now receive these wheelchairs. This was made possible by all those who donated and made the day possible. It is our way of commemorating Mandela Day.”
An occupational therapist and disability advocate demonstrated to the recipients how to correctly and comfortably seat themselves and manoeuvre their wheelchairs.
