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PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The excitement in the Kurland Community Hall could barely be contained when hundreds of underprivileged children received what would most likely be their only Christmas gift.
This was part of Bitou Family Care’s Blessing in a Box initiative which aims to spread festive joy among children in Plettenberg Bay’s poorer communities.
Bitou Family Care – a Plett-based NPO that aims to transform disadvantaged communities by offering love, support and care to children – and CrossFit Plett teamed up again this year to drive initiative.
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One of Bitou Family Care’s projects is a children’s outreach programme called the Kids Club through which volunteers teach underprivileged children, between the ages of six and 12, from Kurland and Bossiesgif life and social skills every week.
The Christmas initiative aims to see to it that each of these children, of which there are just short of 700, receive a gift every year.
On Thursday, December 14, 2017 the bulk of the gifts – which were made possible through generous residents, visitors and businesses – were handed out in Kurland where a Christmas party was held in the local community hall.
The hall was packed with hundreds of excited little faces who could not wait to receive their gifts following some festive fun activities and Christmas carols.
“I’m so happy, I can’t wait to get home to play,” one little recipient said.
After receiving their gifts – which included among others sport-related toys like a ball or a skipping rope, a children’s Bible, some stationary items, soap, a wash cloth, toothbrush and toothpaste – the children were treated to something tasty to eat and drink.
Live entertainment for the children.
Not only did CemAir help with the collection of donations for the initiative, the team also assisted with the catering. Tenikwa Wildlife Centre also contributed to providing the youngsters with something to eat, as well as a few additional toys.
“To see the little ones receiving the gifts with excitement and big smiles on their faces is one of the most rewarding experiences one can imagine.
"It fills my heart with joy to help make this season a little bit more special for the children, especially knowing that the Blessing in a Box gift might be the only one they receive for Christmas,” Bitou Family Care’s Stephan Wenz said.
He added that the initiative would not have been a success without those who contributed.
“A special thank you goes out to Gaylene and Donald Ravenscroft from CrossFit Plett and Nicolene Myburgh from CemAir for all their effort and involvement.
"He added that some others who contributed in some way included Lee-Marque from Tenikwa, Oliver Tonkin, Le Roy Dunn from Ocean View Laundry, Robbie Gibson, Melindi du Preez, Zanzibar Plett, Suzette and Freund from Frendz, Luiz from LM in Plett, CrossFit members, Karin van Riet from the Market Square Shopping Centre, Jose from The Clean Shop, Shelly de Villiers, David Brown from JAM South Africa, Alda Mills and Jafta Engelbrecht from Main Street Pharmacy, The Red Box, Tsitsikamma Crystal Mountain Spring Water, The Grocery Express, Hog Hollow Country Lodge and Kurland Hotel.
ARTICLE & PHOTOS: YOLANDÉ STANDER, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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