Comfort for rape survivors, children in need
MANDELA’S legacy lasted for more than a day, or a month, so The Independent on Saturday and The Mercury are asking for your help in making lasting contributions to two important projects.
We want to help rape survivors with Jess Foord comfort bags, and the Hibberdene Holiday Home with warm gifts the visiting children can take home with them.
The Jes Foord Foundation averages more than 300 rape comfort bags a month, with 60% of these being for children. To help rape survivors take the very first step to healing, we ask for your help in providing as many of these bags as we can: The comfort bag is: A bag, old or new, but in good condition. The items to be placed inside are an A6 notepad and a pen; deodorant, small bottles of shampoo and body lotion; soap and a new facecloth; a small pack of tissues and a soft toy or teddy.
The foundation is always in need of kiddies colouring books, crayons and A5 memo pads to use in art therapy to facilitate the child’s healing process, so these would be welcome too.
The Hibberdene Home has its own legacy – for more than 80 years it has provided a holiday for the poorest of poor children.
Most have never dreamed of a holiday, have never seen the sea, or even a hamburger. Sleeping in a bed is unheard of. There is not a day when they know when next they will have anything to eat.
The home accommodates 120 children at a time, and generous donors provide meals.
What we’d like to do is give them something warm to take home with them when their brief respite from a harsh world ends.
We ask our readers for a beanie, a scarf and a small fleece throw. Not only will these introduce the young guests to the joy of getting a gift, it will be something they can use every winter day, creating a legacy of kindness for them.
People wishing to give either of these gifts can drop them off at the Community Projects department at Independent Media, 18 Osborne Street, Greyville, on or before Monday, July 16. Queries: e-mail lindsay.slogrove@inl.co.za