The Sinako-We Can NPO, with the help of Community Chest, recently held an outreach programme at Luyolo Day Care, located just outside Kariega near St. Albans Correctional Services.
The initiative, aimed at supporting the local community, saw residents gather to receive much-needed clothing and essentials as part of the organisation’s ongoing mission to restore dignity and bring hope to vulnerable groups.
According to the NPO’s founder, Mzukisi Toba, the location was strategically chosen to reach previously underserved areas. “We chose the daycare as a distribution centre to use their premises for the outreach. That area is one we have never covered before. As an organisation, we believe in servicing communities that are based in and on the outskirts of our city.”
The outreach specifically targeted informal settlement residents, many of whom face unemployment and struggle with basic needs. “Our focus was primarily on the informal settlement residents. Most informal settlement residents are unemployed and need assistance with basic needs like winter clothing and blankets,” Toba explained.
The success of the outreach was made possible through partnerships with local organisations. Community Chest served as the main sponsor, providing the bulk of clothing distributed to residents. The initiative also benefited from support from Ackermans, which has played a pivotal role in providing blankets.
“Ackermans has played a pivotal role in assisting with blankets to us so that we can donate them to families with burnt homes. Some of the clothes and blankets that we have donated on the day were part of that donation we got from Ackermans. The main sponsor however that has helped us was Community Chest,” Toba noted.
The outreach provided clothing for all ages, from toddlers to adults, as well as shoes for both males and females. Residents were able to select items based on their specific needs, with all donated items being in very good condition. The programme also included blankets and toys for the crèche.
Sinako NPO’s community support extends beyond clothing drives. The organisation’s next project involves assisting a family affected by fire disaster. “Our next project will be assisting a family with furniture after they were struck by a fire disaster and left with nothing. They were able to build a shack with municipal-supplied material but are unable to move into it as they do not have furniture or beds. Sinako will assist them so they will be able to occupy that temporary structure,” Toba said.
The organisation depends on ongoing support from the community and partner organisations to continue their work. Those interested in providing assistance or learning more about Sinako NPO’s initiatives can reach out via WhatsApp at 068 185 2556.
“Through initiatives like these, Sinako NPO continues to demonstrate the power of community partnerships in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations in the greater Kariega area,” he concluded.
Project manager of Community Chest, Sandy Abdoll, shared that working with Sinako NPO for approximately eight years has been rewarding. “It has been such a pleasure to assist the NPO because their hearts are in the right place,” she said.
Abdoll detailed their annual fundraising efforts: “Every year, Community Chest has a drive where in the month of June through to the end of July, we run a campaign and work in conjunction with most of the Pick n Pay stores. They came on board and we had drop-off points with all their stores. Quite a few corporate donors came on board as well, where we have large boxes that call for the public or the employers at the companies to donate anything, whether it’s household goods, clothing, blankets, or non-perishable groceries. They can just deposit it in the box and then we go and collect them.”
The campaign’s success has been remarkable. “We had a target last year. We set ourselves a target of one ton of donations and we ended the campaign on three tons. This year we wanted to equal or better it and we ended up with four tons of donations,” Abdoll noted.
She emphasised their inclusive approach: “When I say communities, we don’t look at who you are, what church you belong to, what race you are, that is irrespective. A needy person is a needy person that needs help, and that is our main focus and mandate.”
Abdoll also highlighted their previous collaborative projects with Sinako, including flood relief efforts and house restoration projects.
“Some of the things that we donated for that project came from the Winter Woolly Drive. During the floods last year, we provided them with groceries and blankets, and they made up food parcels for those families that were in need,” she explained.
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