GMA: Bikers For Mandela Day 2015 (Pics)

Request from:

Zelda la Grange, Bikers for Mandela Day  

 

Request for:

Vermont Old Age Home (Hendrick Blaauw: [email protected] )

 

 

Angel:

Good Morning Angels Fund

 

Sponsoring:

The GMA Fund will pay off R50 000,00 of the Vermont Home’s outstanding municipal bill, to prevent the home’s electricity from being cut 

 

Background:

The 6th annual International Mandela Day was celebrated this part Saturday, 18 July on Madiba's birthday. People across the world marked the day by doing 67 minutes of service to make our communities a better place. How you do it, is up to you and the idea is to get your hands dirty, give of your time and effort and be of service - taking the future in your own hands.  This year, Good Morning Angels again went along on the annual Bikers for Mandela day journey of service. The group, led by Madiba's former PA, Zelda la Grange left last Thursday morning for Beaufort West, Knysna, Graaff-Reinet and Bloemfontein. Good Morning Angels supported the initiative at the Vermont Old Age Home in Knysna. The home and its 50 elderly residents, have not been spared from the surge in power prices. The home is on the verge of having its electricity cut due to an unpaid municipal account. The bikers took along blankets and warm water bottles for the residents, they also helped with some solar geysers to help reduce costs and the GMA Fund helped to pay off their municipal dept.

 

 

 

Original request:  

Dear Dianne, 

 

Thank you for the willingness from Good Morning Angels to consider this request.  

 

Vermont Old age home is situated in the Industrial area outside of Knysna.  They house about 60 elderly people.  They are dependent on subsidies from Social Development and then contributions from the families or the elderly housed there.  Unfortunately most of the elderly housed there have been neglected by their families and half of them don't contribute to the running costs of the home because they simply cannot afford it.  

 

It was recently reported in the local newspaper in Knysna that they had an electricity bill of more than R170 000 in arrears and it was likely that their electricity supply was going to be suspended during the winter. Some of it has now been paid but the attached account reflects the current outstanding amount.  They just don't manage and the winter and rain would have resulted in higher consumption with the obvious effects. 

 

Bikers for Mandela day has managed to raise two donations of blankets for the home, two blankets per person and a warm water bottle for each.  With the riders contribution we have managed to fit time switches to all the geyzers at the home to ensure more efficient consumption of electricity.  

Upon visiting the home I noticed that most of the elderly were already in a very frail state and I can only imagine how the extra cold conditions would have impacted on them.  

 

Your consideration to contribute to the account will be highly appreciated.  

 

The General Manager of the home is Mr Hendrick Blaauw. 

 

If you could kindly let me know what amount you are willing to contribute I would appreciate so I can find a donor for the rest as well please. 

 

With appreciation 

 

Zelda la Grange 
Co-Ordinator Bikers for Mandela day