An organisation of everyday heroes

The Solidarity Helping Hand organisation is geared towards alleviating poverty in the disadvantaged community.

Just last month they used donated money to buy and distribute toiletries to teenagers in need. One of their current projects is “Brei ‘n Blok”, or knit a square. They ask members of the community to knit squares to be sewn together to make blankets. They hope to collect enough squares to make 1 000 blankets.

They also have asked that sponsors donate wool to residents of retirement homes to enable the seniors to help with the project. Many of the knitted squares will be used to make blankets that will be donated to residents of the homes, so in a way those women not only enjoy knitting, they help to provide in their friends’ needs. The Brei ‘n Blok project is scheduled to conclude in March 2015, just in time for winter.

Solidarity Helping Hand also runs programmes such as Sponsor a Child where the donated money is used to supplement children’s lifestyles. It can be used to pay for school tours and excursions, sports equipment, school uniforms and therapy. Additionally one can sponsor a needy Grade 1 pupil and provide him or her with a uniform and stationery. Helping Hand also has a bursary scheme and encourages matric pupils to apply for an interest-free loan to further their studies. The Lunchbox project provides lunch to pre-school children, and the objective of the Santa Shoebox project is to provide disadvantaged children with small gifts for Christmas.

Adele Kruger is a part of the South Gauteng branch and is involved in almost every aspect of Helping Hand’s community outreach projects. “We need all the help we can get – from anybody and everybody. We never are going to beat poverty but, if people are willing to lend a hand, we can make a good dent.”

As a former businesswoman Kruger laments the fact that she didn’t find her calling sooner. “When God gets you to do what you should be doing, its not just part-time. With the work I’m doing now, I’m so much more fulfilled. This is much more than just employment.”

Kruger accepts that not everyone can deal with the realities of poverty. She says she doesn’t expect everyone to become Mother Teresa, but she firmly believes that we are responsible for our communities.

The Donation Office is located shop 2 at the Lindhaven Shopping Centre. Anything found in a home can be donated – furniture, clothes, linen, mattresses – most especially food.

Contact Adele on 079 881 3338 or adele@helpendehand.co.za.