No sponsor is too small or too big at Impumelelo
“It has been a really difficult time for the home since the pandemic started. A lot of sponsors have pulled out and things have been strenuous since we sorely depend on sponsorship.”
Impumelelo Self Help Centre for Quadriplegics was established in 2003 to take care of disabled people who are mostly in wheelchairs.
Volunteer administrator Ntokozo Mahlangu said he has been involved with the centre since 2017 where he learnt about disabilities.
“Since I am a resident, I came here on Mandela Day to do my 67 minutes. I wanted to know more about the place and I asked if I could do voluntary work,” said Mahlangu.
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Mahlangu had to learn the ins and outs of the centre, the needs of those in its care and how they can be assisted.
“It has been a really difficult time for the home since the pandemic started. A lot of sponsors have pulled out and things have been strenuous since we solely depend on sponsorship.
“We are an independent living centre and we always ask for donations. Currently what we receive is daily bread. We receive food parcels from local businesses and sometimes it is not enough. We have tried to get the previous sponsors back but we haven’t been getting any luck,” he said.
Mahlangu said there is a lot of help required at the centre. They have a garden centre but they do not have tools.
“We need a vegetable incubator where we will be able to produce fresh vegetables. We also need a safety net to protect our home from golf balls since we are next to Pollak Park Golf Club,” said Mahlangu.
They wish companies in Springs and the golf course could make time to visit the home, and then perhaps they might try assisting in whatever way they can.
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“We also need renovations on doors, paintings, and making the place feel like home. We do have security cameras but they are very limited. We would like sponsorship of cameras to tighten up the security.
“Another challenge we have is the municipality bill is too high. We are an NPO but the system says we are a business home. We have been trying to change that but it is taking a lot of time. We would be grateful if there is a company that could donate solar power for us to avoid paying so much for the bill,” he said.
He said Thulani Simelani, councillor for Ward 74, has been a great help to the home and has been trying to secure donations to the home.
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