School shoes for underprivileged children

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GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Eden FM, Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), Vodacom, and the George Museum kicked off their second Walk a Child to School campaign drive on Thursday 20 October.

Local businesses, faith-based organisations, institutions of higher learning and community members will be targeted to form part of the drive that aims to donate shoes and socks to learners from rural schools.

Beneficiaries will come from the Garden Route district (Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Bitou, Oudtshoorn and Kannaland).

Eden FM sales and marketing manager Nomonde Makhubalo says they aim to source about 2 500 donations, an increase of more than 300% on what they received last year.

"Those interested to make a difference in a child's life are welcome to sponsor a pair of school shoes to an underprivileged child. A pair of shoes will help a child to enjoy a painless and less harmful walk to school. No shoes also mean cold feet, especially during winter months."

For a small bag of groceries, a person can sponsor a pair of school shoes that costs R150 on average.

Eden FM station manager Morné Petersen said last year they donated 750 pairs of shoes to children living in the Garden Route.

PHOTO GALLERY: Walk a Child to School campaign drive

GRDM Mayor Memory Booysen said children drop out of school because they do not have the bare necessities like shoes and many girls stay away from school because they do not have sanitary towels.

GRDM recently held a sanitary towel drive and will continue to support this.

Donations already pledged

The Road Accident Fund donated 500 pairs of shoes on the day of the launch, while George Museum pledged 100 pairs of shoes, Vodacom R7 500 worth of shoes (approximately 50 pairs), and Eden FM R5 000 (approximately 33 pairs).

The estimated number of donations, taking into account the pledges, now stands at 673 pairs of shoes.

Get involved

To donate, contact Nomonde Makhubalo via e-mail at marketing@edenfm.co.za, WhatsApp 078 395 4196 or phone 044 874 5085.

Companies who would like to get involved can request a 'Walk a Child to School' box from Nomonde.

Drop off donations at the Eden FM office at 97 York Street in George or Vodacom offices throughout the Garden Route.

The two individuals who initiated the Walk a Child to School campaign, Nomonde Makhubalo, Eden FM sales and marketing manager (looking at the camera) and Mr Queeny Diko, Vodacom cluster specialist for the Eden region.