Cash boost for welfare
BHP Billiton’s South32 staff in Richards Bay held a cake sale to help raise funds for Richards Bay Family Care’s (RBFC) Social Relief Programme, which helps struggling families with food parcels.
RBFC Social Worker Supervisor Zakithi Mahlati commended the company’s staff for their efforts in supporting the welfare organisation, which has been negatively impacted by the recession and lack of public donations.
‘Following an article published in the Zululand Observer in which we appealed for businesses and community support to help Richards Bay Family Care raise funds, the Engineering Department at South32 rallied and hosted the cake sale which raised R6 000.
‘We are extremely grateful for the donation and would like to encourage individuals, small and private businesses to assist us as the current state of our country’s economy has hit us hard,’ said Mahlati
‘Owing to the rising costs of fuel, food, rentals and home loan repayments, we have found that parents provide for the basic necessities first and are left with little to ensure they have groceries for the family for the whole month.
‘We run a social relief programme through which families are issued with food parcels during their time of need.
‘Currently our stock rooms have run dry because of no income from donors and we appeal to locals to support us with monthly donations.
‘Family Care is a nonprofit organisation and must sustain itself with day-to-day running costs.
‘On a monthly basis we need about R30 000 to cover operational costs, otherwise we cannot continue rendering the much needed services to children and families of Richards Bay.
‘Families arrive daily to RBFC for food supplies which cannot be granted.’