WATCH: A very good morning for the homeless
It is all about changing lives and giving back.
EVEN when we’re all wrapped up from head to toe, you can still feel the chilly bite of winter – and it makes you wonder how the homeless survive the bitter cold.
WATCH:
Specialised Video Solutions (SVS) invited the RECORD to a blanket and soup drive, recently, during which we gained first-hand experience about just how tough life is for the homeless.
At 4am on June 3, while most people were still cosy in bed and sound asleep, SVS staff, their families and volunteers got together in Voortrekker Road to prepare to bring a little hope to the lives of the homeless.
Spirits where high as the group departed in convoy to hand out blankets, jackets, soup, bread and cold drinks to the homeless in Alberton and the South of Johannesburg. The convoy made its way up and down Alberton’s streets. At the McDonald’s stop, the group approached two elderly homeless men with a hearty “Good morning! It’s time to wake up”. The words that followed left the group speechless for a moment. “Morning, morning,” one of them said. “If you wake me this early it must be Saturday, June 3. The people said you would be coming today!”
No words can describe the expressions on the faces of the homeless after they were woken up. Some of them smiled while they uttered their thanks and some just cried. Helping the homeless is an experience which will be engraved on one’s soul forever.
Stop after stop re-affirmed the realisation that poverty knows no age and does not differentiate between gender or race. With more time in hand one could fill pages with their stories – about choices made, things which went horribly wrong and what it’s like to live on the street.
The convoy later made its way towards Rosettenville and Turffontein. As the streets came alive, RECORD’s members left Rosettenville and the group made their way home.
A total of 185 blankets, 600 sandwiches, 170 bowls of soup, 200 cold drinks and 20 jackets were handed out. To some this may seem like a small number, but to those who received something during this drive, it made a huge difference.
Those smiles, the blessings uttered and the sense of gratitude will linger in everyone’s hearts for a long time to come.
SVS would like to thank the following people:
Carlos Cordoso (SVS CEO), Juanita de Weerdt, Kapil Dev Bagwandin, Melinda Fernihough, Maximus Concrete Supplies, Shaun Anthony, Jaco and Ray, Kobus Koen, from Shelving Warehouse Supplies, Compass Security, Bustque, Industrial Rackmount Solutions, CJM Painting, staff from Bosch, staff from Stanmo and the Alberton RECORD for making the trip with them.
Many thanks also go to:
Rika, Ciela and Tienie, for making the buckets of soup. Gerda and family for obtaining many sponsorships and for the overall planning of the event, Pierre and his family for making the sandwiches, Bernard Lazarus for initially collecting the blankets, Frank Smith for all the arrangements with the RECORD as well as the transportation of the blankets, the entire SVS team and families that were present on the day to assist, said Wendy Smith, operations director, Specialised Video Solutions.
“SVS is proud of this achievement. We did this with pride – and the joy on someone’s face made not only a difference to them, but truly touched each and every one of us. Next year we aim to double the numbers that we achieved this year,” said Wendy.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
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