In celebration of Mandela Day, a multinational retail company and its employees in the Cape region have raised over R100 000 for improvements to the St Francis Children’s Home in Athlone.
They also offered their hands and sweat to work alongside non-profit organisation, Newkidz, in painting and renovating four kitchens and their computer room.
St Francis Children’s Home is currently home to 45 boys, ranging from the ages of 2 to 17, and is in dire need of repairs.
The funding has been allocated to revamp the four kitchens, repaint the computer room, replace the damaged windows and secure the front door with a security gate. The boys also all received two pairs of warm pyjamas and a casual outfit.
Milton Fredericks, Woolworths’ Corporate Social Investment (CSI) administrator, grew up in the area and nominated the St Francis Children’s Home as one of their employee 100 Mandela Day projects.
“From personal experience I understand the challenges that these boys are facing and saw an opportunity to give them hope and put a smile on their faces. I was delighted to then hear that my store colleagues in the Cape and greater Cape region had also proposed St Francis Children’s Home as the beneficiary for their Just Cause initiative. Their support gave us the opportunity to make an even greater difference here,” Mr Fredericks said.
Fatima Levy, the public relations officer of St Francis Children’s Home, expressed their appreciation for the donation.
“Woolworths has indeed made a major difference to us with this generous donation to give us a safer and warmer winter. The windows being replaced is a big one for us. We truly felt their care as they have been hands-on and listened to our needs. They have also opened their doors for us to collect surplus food from their Kromboom and Palmyra stores,” Ms Levy said.
Just Cause is part of the Woolworths Employee Community Involvement Programme that encourages clusters of employees to identify and propose a community cause that they will support through fund-raising. The Woolworths Trust then matches the funds raised up to R40 000.