A Manenberg charity has been able to buy another vehicle after its bakkie was stolen earlier this year.
The Opel Corsa bakkie belonging to Help Others Prosper Everywhere (HOPE) was taken in late March and has not been recovered (“Organisation’s bakkie stolen,” Athlone News, April 7“).
Hope raises money to buy school shoes for needy children and distributes them to schools across Cape Town. Thousands of children have benefited from the project over the years, but its future was jeopardised by the loss of the bakkie.
Sebastian Haricombe, the co-founder of the nine-year-old organisation, said he was thrilled with how people had come to their aid during very hard times. Hope had also started a take-away in Manenberg to raise money, he said.
“Even the place where we buy the potatoes for the take-away, after hearing of our plight, offered us a discount.”
He had seen the car advertised on social media and the woman who had sold it to Hope had also given a discount. A motor firm had then spray-painted the car and fitted an alarm for free.
“I am so grateful to everybody who has had a hand in us buying the car. I want to thank them all from the depths of my heart. I am overjoyed to see how quickly God restored us,” said Mr Haricombe.
During lockdown, Hope had been unable to work directly with schools, but it had still helped parents to buy school shoes at discounted prices, he said.
“We can’t allow the project to stand still. People showed us their generous hearts and supported us. When things are back to normal, we will be partnering with 30 schools, in Manenberg, Bridgetown, Uitsig, Atlantis, Kraaifontein, and Mitchell’s Plain.”