Donors step up after care centre blaze tragedy
NOLAN Marimuthu was 2 years old when his parents died, and the Lakehaven Child and Youth Care Centre became home for him and his younger sister.
After hearing about the deaths of eight people at the home on Thursday morning, the 50-year-old Phoenix businessman arrived at the centre on Monday eager to help.
“I stayed here from the age of 2 to 19. My sister was only 1 when we arrived. The last time I visited the home was eight years ago,” he said.
“When my wife told me about the fire… I knew I needed to do something. That is why I am here today to help in cash and in kind. I was part and parcel of this place and it brings tears to my eyes to hear about this incident. My only hope is for the home to be rebuilt,” said the father of three.
Like other donors, Marimuthu was not allowed on to the premises until investigations are complete. He left his contact details with staff to notify him on how to assist.
Inder Ramlaggan, of Newlands West, arrived with his wife and donated curtains, bed sheets, sandals and sleepwear.
Ramlaggan said they would return later on Monday, as they still needed to purchase food items for the children.
“When we heard about the fire, we felt sad. We have interacted with the children before and we said to ourselves, ‘let’s gather what we can’ – we must share what we have.”
The chairman of the Hillgrove Hindu Society Shri Vishnu Mandir, Sam Samlall, donated clothing.
“We made a call-out to devotees over the weekend and I’m here to drop off the items.”
Samlall said they hosted a feeding scheme at the centre at least once a year.
Former Verulam school teacher Pravesh Arjun said he and friends collected R2 000, which they donated.
“Being teachers, children are close to our hearts,” he said.
For enquiries on how you can assist the centre, call them at 031 577 8948.