GALLERY: One bench of kindness at a time

The Featherbrook Hills Retirement Village recently received donations of garden benches from various entities in the community, and residents. Re/Max Masters initiated a challenge on their Facebook page to the community to donate 12 benches to the village. A total of eight benches were then donated. “We are very grateful to those that have donated benches to our village. This gives the residents here a reason to take more walks because if they get tired they will now have a place to sit,” said committee member of the retirement village garden and social committee Valarie Stokes.

Cottage Montessori donated a bench with a plaque saying ‘From the youngies to the oldies. Love from the children at Montessori Cottage’. The principal of the school Janet Clarke, stated that it was very important for children to understand that others need to be put first. “It feels really good reaching out and helping. Often old people are forgotten and it is nice when they are given the limelight,” said Clarke.

Some donated benches for personal reasons. “I donated the bench to keep the memory of my husband alive. The bench is to symbolise that he still is here,” said Featherbrook resident Krishnie Ramsingh.

“Everything is about family, that is why we donated the bench. We wanted the seniors to be able to relax. It is also our way of giving back to the community as they support us so much,” said Dwayne Andrews from Featherbrooke Spar.

The village also received a generous church organ donation from Corrie Pretorius and Jakes Jacobs.

Stokes added that the challenge is still open to the public, the village is still in need of four more garden benches.

Details : Valarie Stokes vmbstokes17@gmail.com