The Western Cape Cerebral Palsy Association is calling on the public to support its Help Fill Our Pantry campaign to assist some of its most vulnerable residents and service users.
The association has existed for more than 73 years and supports four projects, including De Heide Special Care Centre and Village Work Centre at its Claremont head office, as well as Rosedon House in Rondebosch East and its Cerebral Palsy Clinic at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
According to WCCPA administrator Cheryl Beaton, these projects provide therapeutic intervention, rehabilitation, special needs education, accommodation, employment skills training, as well as counselling and support to persons with cerebral palsy and additional disabilities.
The Help Fill Our Pantry campaign was inspired by cuts to government funding.
“This led us to focus our energy on the basic needs of all our projects,” she said.
Currently, Rosedon House, a facility for 53 adults with cerebral palsy and additional disabilities, is the beneficiary of the campaign.
“The second-highest cost at Rosedon House is the food bill, and this inspired us to come up with this campaign where we appeal for actual food, which directly impacts the food budget at Rosedon House,” she said.
The highest cost at Rosedon House is staff salaries, while facility maintenance ranks third.
Food items currently needed include long-life milk, Weet-Bix, peanut butter, jam, eggs, coffee, tea, corned beef, pilchards, beans and other canned foods, sugar, oats, flour, tuna (chunks and shredded), brown lentils, pasta, custard, and fresh fruit and vegetables.
“Community collaboration is important to us as this is an ongoing drive and the aim is for it to carry on indefinitely,” said Beaton.
Donations can be dropped off at Village Work Centre, 11 First Avenue, Claremont, or at Rosedon House, 11 Rosedon Road, Rondebosch East. Donors are asked to include a list or slip with their contact details and the items donated.
“We recognise the economy is tough with the rising costs of just about everything, but we hope that people will give generously and that the support we are calling for will continue well into the future,” she said.
For more information, visit the Western Cape Cerebral Palsy Association or call 021 685 4150.
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