Dear Friends
You may have thought that we’d got lost somewhere in cyber space, but here we are alive and well. I can’t believe that six months has passed since we were in touch – and have we been busy!
New Shops
We have 2 new clothing and bric a brac shops. We opened our charity shop in Wynberg in March. It is situated in the Wynberg Centre, corner Main and Piers Roads. It is going really well as many people use the centre as a short cut to the station and taxi ranks. Thanks to Eve, Yoliswa and Marcelle, the wonderful staff, the shop is looking spunky and full of life. For more info call Eve at 021-7618586.
And….. we are about to launch our very newest edition Help the Rural Child Charity Shop, Retreat Mall, Station Road, Retreat, just along the way from our Retreat Bookshop.
At the moment the staff, Griselda and Jenny together with Paulette who is our most experienced Charity Shop employee and to whom I am most grateful, are working furiously to get it up and running in the next couple of weeks.
New Additions
The World Cup is upon us. If you want to escape from the insanity of traffic and vuvzelas, come to our Mowbray Bookshop. We now have a designated coffee area where you can sit and enjoy a cup of “proper” coffee while you contemplate the beautiful mountain that looks down on us, as well perusing the lovely books that adorn our shelves, with music in the background to sooth your shattered nerves.
The coffee costs R10 per cup. Coffee and a yummy homemade biscuit costs R13
Student Cards: As we are so near UCT Mowbray bookshop is offering discount cards to students. 10% discount on all books!
Events
27 -31 May: Retreat Bookshop had a sale at Somerset West Mall which was very successful. This is a yearly sale for all charities and lasts 4 days. Look out for the event next year.
Raffle: Come into Mowbray Bookshop and buy a ticket for R5. The lucky winner will receive a R100 book voucher AND a Help the Rural Child VUVUZELA!!
Southern Cross Path out of Poverty Rural Youth Centre (POP) in Riebeek Kasteel
This is the first of we hope many centres that Help the Rural Child is helping to revenue fund through the proceeds from our charity shops. It opened in February 2010 and as you can see from the photos, it is already buzzing with activity!
In this short time that the Centre has been open, it provides antenatal classes for more than 20 pregnant women in the area (Edlyne van der Westhuizen together with 5 volunteers walked door to door to invite pregnant women to the classes).
A very successful holiday programme was held in April. Having no idea of how many children would arrive, Edlyne and her team catered for 50 children and youth. More than 150 children entered through the gate with another 300 trying to get in. A four-week holiday programme is being planned for June/July with educational activities, arts and cultural activities, youth leadership training and health and recreational activities.
* Almost 300 schoolchildren have used the centre to do their homework as their homes are overcrowded.
The centre has also started two income generation projects – sowing and cooking/baking classes for 50 women in Riebeek Kasteel.
Although it sounds wonderful it is always a struggle to find the financial support for equipment, food to feed these children who Edylne says are in dire straits; hopefully our charity shops, with your support and generosity will be able to go from strength to strength so that these Youth Centres can continue providing such invaluable services.
Keep warm, dry and safe.
Nicky
PS: IF YOU HAVE ANY CLOTHING, BRIC A BRAC THAT YOU ARE DYING TO GET RID OF PLEASE REMEMBER US. YOU CAN DROP IT OFF AT THE SHOPS – THERE IS PLENTY OF PARKING AT BOTH PLACES. OR CALL US ON 0216898392 AND OUR FRIENDLY AND RELIABLE STOCK COLLECTORS, RAYMOND AND JAFFET, WILL COLLECT PROMPTLY AND HAPPILY!
AND ANOTHER WAY YOU CAN HELP. BOTH SHOPS NEED VOLUNTEERS. IF YOU HAVE 4 HOURS A WEEK TO GIVE AWAY PLEASE CONSIDER US. CALL EITHER OF THE ABOVE NUMBERS AND WE’LL BE HAPPY TO WELCOME YOU.
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