Donovan McDonald residents spoilt by Good Samaritans
The elderly are served meat only once a week, and sometimes only once a month.
Appreciative elders and smiles were everywhere in the Hall of Donovan McDonald retirement centre on Sunday afternoon, 23 February.
From the perfectly set table to mouth-watering mutton curry and desert, the Hubbul Masaakeen (HM) non-profit organisation thought of it all to spoil their elderly. HM is a community-driven organisation that has the best interests of the elderly at heart. With the problems our retirement centres and elderly are facing HM ensures the necessary grocery drop-offs every month, and gets sponsors to drop off milk and bread every week. Due to low funding in the retirement centres, the elderly are served meat only once a week, and sometimes only once a month.
HM relies on sponsorship’s and donations to function and for that reason they can only provide a full dinner once a year. “We want to give them a meal they don’t get. We care about our elders and we appreciate when they are happy,” Moulana Anees Kara, founder and chairperson of HM said.
“With this dinner, we also get the elders to socialise and that is important to them because most of them are alone and don’t usually get to socialise. A lot of them are neglected by their families, and by interacting with others they can make friends,” Anjoem Ismail, vise-chairperson of HM explained.
Dressed in their best the very grateful seniors sat at the decorated tables enjoying the company of their neighbours. After exchanging some laughs and making new friends, they all had the delicious meal and prepared themselves for desert.
