A festive pledge of benefaction for Sedge

SEDGEFIELD NEWS - Several children and families in the greater Sedgefield area received a huge helping hand during the festive season, courtesy of the ongoing Sedgefield Christmas Pledge programme.

Sedgefield Christmas Pledge was started in 2016 by Belinda Hobson and her Christmas elves, Nici Moore and Chaise Reeler, who at that time worked at the Sedgefield Tourism Office.

Even during the strenuous time of Covid-19, the eighth Christmas Pledge took place a few weeks ago with the help of local NPO Masithandane, Coyote Events, Dover on Sea, Ward One Councillor Levael Davis, and most importantly, the generosity of members of the public.

On 15 December 2020, 34 children, in the greater Sedgefield (including areas of Smutsville, Karatara, and Beervlei), along with their carers, received gifts and food packages. It was a summer afternoon charged with raw emotion for all involved.

Humbled and honoured
"We felt both humbled and honoured to witness the children’s faces light up after receiving their gifts," said Hobson. "The challenges confronting our communities are great and include socio-economic, health and stark environmental issues. What is clear, however, is that if we all stand together and assist in uplifting one another, progress can be made."

The care packages included a wide variety of goods for those in need.

This drive continues to remain a magnificent example. And while there are many, many more needy children and families in the community, it was wonderful to appreciate the generosity of spirit towards those that could be helped this year.

“I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all those that so generously sponsored one of these special angels,” said Hobson.

“I wish these sponsors were able to appreciate the joy that the gifts and food were received with. A big thank you to Bronwyn Lloyd, Jurgens and Karen van der Walt, Ian of Shell Garage Sedgefield, Councillor Levael Davis and Masithandane and their wonderful carers for taking the time to join us and for their support. We hope to continue this project again in December 2021."

If you would like to sponsor a child this December, please contact Belinda Hobson on 074 456 2253.

Belinda Hobson hands out the care packages in Smutsville.