Update
KNYSNA NEWS - Donations meant for fire victims in Knysna will be staying in Knysna, all thanks to a petition set up by a concerned organisation and their continuous pleas to the powers that be to keep said donations in the town.
In the Knysna-Plett Herald (KPH) of 1 February, it was reported that the donations stored at Woodmill Walk shopping centre were being removed by the Department of Social Development (DSD) and relocated to the local Red Cross for further distribution.
According to Ewan Seton, member of fire victim support group OneKnysna#OK, there was the possibility of these donations leaving Knysna and a petition was launched – on Wednesday 24 January – to keep the goods in Knysna.
At the time, Red Cross officials in Cape Town could not confirm what would happen to the donations in the future.
Seton and the members of OneKnysna#OK did not want the goods to be distributed without representatives of the fire victims being part of the decision-making process, as they believe passionately that the donations should remain in Knysna and that fire victims should have a say in what happens to it.
“The goods were donated specifically to help the victims of the Knysna fire and we feel that these goods can still make a huge difference in the lives of the people that need aid.
"The distribution of the goods should encompass not only fire victims but the needy as well in Knysna and surrounds.
"Once we have distributed the clothing to absolutely everyone who needs it, we also believe that whatever is left could be used constructively to help in some other ways,” Seton said at the time.
This week it came to light that all this group's hard work seemed to have paid off.
Seton told Knysna-Plett Herald on Tuesday 6 February that the CEO of the SA Red Cross, Derick Naidoo, had contacted them with "wonderful news".
"The One Knysna Association will now be able to guide what happens to the goods in conjunction with the Red Cross," Seton said jubilantly.
Naidoo had told Seton that he agrees the donated goods must go to the affected and that "this has always been our stance".
"If your grouping wants to take on the task of working with the distribution, we have no problem with that," Naidoo said in his email to Seton.
* To get involved, contact Seton on 072 682 8982, or visit the Facebook/One Knysna #OK.
Read a previous article: Keep donations in Knysna
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