KNYSNA NEWS - The Red Cross in Knysna has a good track record for helping those in need, but this time the organisation needs a helping hand.
As a charity organisation, the Red Cross does not only raise funds to help the poor, the sick and the homeless but also provides training for Hospice nurses and home-based caregivers.
Some of its other behind-the-scenes activities – which few people are aware of – include disaster relief, ambulance services, international humanitarian law, first aid, disaster prevention, community-based primary health care and health development.
These services are provided by volunteers, the youth, the voluntary aid corporation and field development officers.
Shop plays a major role
The Red Cross Shop in Knysna is the face of the Red Cross locally and plays a major role in helping the organisation meet its goals.
Manager Debra Barnes said the shop is currently not receiving enough donations to keep afloat in a sustainable way, and barely made its rental for last month.
"The shop is completely self-funded and we do not get any assistance from our provincial office in Cape Town. All our overheads have to be paid through money generated by donations. Whatever money is left over is used to assist the Red Cross Training Centre in furthering their responsibility of being on the frontline in times of disaster and need. The Garden Route has seen its fair share of fires and floods in the last decade and Red Cross has been there constantly to help," Barnes said.
It is for this reason, she added, that it they were now pleading with the public to help keep the doors open.
'Please donate anything we can sell'
They are asking for any goods. "We will accept anything we can get a price for. It does not have to be specific items only. If we can sell an item, we will take it," she said.
"Not only do we raise money for charity but the shop itself serves as an outlet for the low-income earners to be able to purchase good quality clothes and items at affordable prices.
We are in need of clothing, shoes, handbags, bedding, towels, crockery, cutlery, carpets, furniture, curtains, table cloths, underwear, socks, winter woollies, dressing gowns, slippers, pyjamas, school shoes, suitcases, DVDs, CDs, books, toys, household appliances, washing machines, tumble dryers, TVs or anything we can get a price for.
Many people, especially the poor, have still not recovered their losses from the fires and we have requests constantly for the above-mentioned items."
Volunteers also needed
The shop itself is also in need of a "pick me up" and they would welcome the following: two tables for displaying goods, some clothing rails, and volunteers to assist in keeping books in alphabetical order and to assist on the shop floor.
"The shop is in desperate need of a spring-clean. If there is a company out there willing to help us in exchange for a thank you letter or Thumbs Up it would be greatly appreciated."
They also need volunteers who would be willing to run a Facebook page and a WhatsApp group for the shop.
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