Spring has Sprung and with this fresh new month ahead of us, we want to encourage you to do something a little different. As many of us do when the 1 of September comes knocking, we get ready to rearrange our homes, cleaning all the nooks and crannies that we’ve missed throughout the year, putting away our winter warmers and hauling out our summer favourites, to get ready for the warm weather we’re about to enjoy. But happens to the once-loved items of clothing you find or the teddys and toys your kids once adored?
Now is a good time to change it up, and instead of rearranging, let’s spring into action and pull out some of our pre-loved items and share them with people that will love them again. When you are cleaning out, let’s think of those that may need the item you may be ready to throw out: everything from second-hand clothing, furniture, to kitchenware, would be gratefully appreciated at any home, charity or homeless shelter in and around your community.
To help you spread some happiness and joy, we’ve done some research and found out that H&M is encouraging us all to clean out our closets and be fashion recyclers. The H&M Garment Collecting programme is an initiative that works to prevent customers unwanted clothes and textiles from going to landfill. All you need to do is drop any of your unwanted clothes by any brand, in any condition, at any H&M store and you will receive a 15% off voucher of one item of your choice! All clothes collected by H&M are either reused, re-worn or recycled with 0% going to landfill, in collaboration with Clothes to Good.
We’ve also listed a few organisations that would also be extremely happy to accept your gifts to share with those who would appreciate it the most:
JOHANNESBURG
Johannesburg Children’s Home
Provides a safe refuge for 64 children of all races who have been found in need of care by the Children’s Court. Aged from 3 to 18 years, our children have suffered physical, sexual or emotional abuse, severe neglect or abandonment. Some are Aids orphans and/or are HIV positive. At JCH they start a new life, living in cottages of up to ten children under the loving eyes of trained Child Care Workers.
Website: http://www.jch.org.za/
Contact Number: 011 023 6870
Nazareth House Johannesburg
Nazareth House Johannesburg’s objective to serve the homeless human casualties of the sprawling mining camp that was Johannesburg. Nazareth House Johannesburg aims to improve the lives of men, women and children who are not able to care for themselves and those living with the effects of HIV and Aids.
Website: http://www.nazhouse.org.za/
Contact Number: 011 648 1002/3/4
Hearts of Hope
Hearts of Hope provides a safe home for vulnerable children. Hearts of Hope currently care for 34 orphaned and vulnerable children, aged between birth and 18 years old.
Website: https://heartsofhope.org.za/
Contact Number: 082 458 2677
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is fully engaged in a vibrant ministry of outreach to those impacted and affected by poverty and hunger, sadness, abuse and desperation. They bring the love of God to the poorest of the poor and the neediest of communities.
Website: www.salvationarmy.org.za
Contact Number: 011 718 6700
Frida Hartley Shelter
The Frida Hartley Shelter for destitute women and children in Yeoville, Johannesburg, takes in homeless women, and their children who have endured neglect, abuse, trauma and homelessness. They shelter individuals who have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet; young homeless mothers looking to kick-start their lives; individuals going through financial difficulties (affected by retrenchment or unemployment).
Website: www.fridahartley.org
Contact Number: 011 648 6005
CAPE TOWN
St Lukes Combined Hospice
St Luke’s Combined Hospices is a leading palliative care hospice registered as a Not for Profit (NPC), Public Benefit Organization (PBO). Palliative Care, or often called end-of-life care, begins at the point of diagnosis of a terminal illness.
Website: www.stlukes.co.za
Contact Number: 021 797 5335
SANZAF
The South African National Zakáh Fund (SANZAF) is a faith-based, socio-welfare and educational organisation that strives to facilitate the empowerment of needy families through the efficient collection and effective distribution of Zakáh and other Sadaqát in a proactive and cost-effective way through projects – with dignity, sincerity and shared responsibility.
Website: www.sanzaf.org.za
Contact Number: 0216380965/ 0216387189
Miracle Kidz
Provide a safe and loving temporary home to abused, abandoned and neglected children. Furthermore, they feed, clothe and attend to any medical requirements that are needed and introduce them to a family structure thus preparing them for the future.
Website: http://www.miraclekidz.co.za/
Contact Number: 072 761 9301
Durbanville Kinderhuis
The Durbanville Children’s Home fills the gap in service provision for vulnerable children by using dedicated, professional services to support children in need of care and their families, with the ultimate aim of restoring them to a healthy family relationship.
Website: https://durbanvillekinderhuis.org.za/
Contact Number: 021 975 6822
U-Turn
U-Turn equips people with skills and work opportunities to overcome homelessness. The programme is designed by occupational therapists and is Christian faith-based, with long term results for rehabilitation.
Website: http://homeless.org.za/about-u-turn/
Contact Number: 021 674 6119
DURBAN
The Baby Home
The Baby Home is a fully registered Place of Safety that cares for abandoned or orphaned babies and babies given up for adoption. They nurture each of their babies individually, providing them with the love and care that every child deserves. They do this until a permanent solution is found for each child.
Website: www.babyhome.org.za/
Contact Number: 082 773 0781
The Durban Child & Youth Care Centre
The Durban Child & Youth Care Centre is a registered NPO providing loving care for orphans, destitute and neglected children, deemed by the Children’s Court to be at risk.
Website: https://dch.org.za/
Contact Number: 031 201 1301
Kerr House
Kerr House is a women’s refuge which provides shelter to women in crisis. They offer a professional support service to women by providing counselling, relief and rehabilitation in partnership with other relevant professional organisations.
Website: http://www.kerrhouse.co.za/
Contact Number: 031 3032912
The Open Door Crisis Centre
The Open Door lobbies for advocacy and prevention of secondary abuse on a daily basis, challenging anti-human rights against women and children. The Open Door is a one-stop trauma and crisis centre. They focus their attention on social issues in society, offering counselling, social support, and training. Victims of all forms of abuse are accommodated in their registered shelter.
Website: www.theopendoor.org.za
Contact Number: 031 709 2679
Nazareth Care
The Sisters of Nazareth have opened their doors to the poorest of the poor in caring for the sick, destitute, aged and underprivileged, orphaned children.
Website: http://www.nazhouse.org.za
Contact Number: 031 261 2207
