Every winter, BAPS Charities in South Africa run its annual Winter Warmer drive across all major cities in the country. The aim of the drive is to donate clothes, blankets, hot meals and non-perishable food and household items to underprivileged and impoverished communities in preparation for the winter season.
On Saturday, 30 May 2015, BAPS Charities volunteers from Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, donated appliances, building ware and non-perishable food to a local beneficiary: Phuthamahae Community Care Givers. The selected beneficiary is a non-profit organisation situated in the informal settlement of Orange Farm, outside Johannesburg. The organisation serves orphans, vulnerable children and child-headed families with daily necessities and plays a role of a day care facility on a daily basis. Through understanding their needs for the upcoming winter season, BAPS Charities donated 50 boxes of clothing, four months worth of nutritious non-perishable vegetarian food, building ware and household appliances required for daily feeding and maintenance of the facility. Volunteers also served hot meals and spent quality time with the children, interacting and playing with them with the intention of bringing a smile to their faces.
The visit culminated in the children thanking the volunteers by singing songs of praise in their local language. BAPS Charities volunteers were taken aback by the warm reception received and plan to provide more sustainable support to the beneficiary in years to come.
