Above: Nigel Conference’s soup kitchen attracted a steady line of people in need of a nourishing meal.
Our Vincentian brothers and sisters strive to ‘make every day a Mandela Day’. But even so, Mandela Day brings a special surge of volunteer activity – all aimed at uplifting our less fortunate neighbours.
The Nigel Conference started early, providing soup, bread and clothes for homeless children on the Friday.
On Mandela Day, they teamed up with Duduza SSVP members, handing out clothing at the Church Hall in Duduza at an event organised by SANCA. Some members visited Kensington for a ‘meet and greet’.
On Mandela Day, San Salvador fed 150 people. At Malvern on the East Rand, over 300 people, including children, received a mug and cuppa soup. Beanies, cold drink and popsicles were also handed out, while Assumption Convent distributed goodie bags.
Also on the East Rand, Germiston conference handed out clothes, soup, bread and chips to the children at Dikathole.
St Perigrine Laziosi Alra Park worked hand in hand with CWL of St Perigrine to provide clothing, food parcels and fresh cabbages to those in need.
Clean up project
St Anthony’s Conference in Bergvliet, Cape Town, had a busy Mandela Day, with two different projects underway.
At the church, volunteers packed 150 soup jars, while other members tackled a garden clean up in front of the home of a poor family they serve.
Partnerships extend our impact
On 16 July, Regina Pacis, Ladysmith Conference joined forces with Al Imdaad Foundation and St Anne and Sacred Heart Sodalities to distribute 50 blankets to the needy people at Steadville, Ladysmith.
In another collaboration under NWKZN cc, they helped prepare sandwiches for people in Roosboom and celebrated Mandela Day with Hospice Ladysmith and Al Imdaad.
These are just a few examples of Vincentian efforts on Mandela Day – but there were many, many more. Grateful thanks to everyone who turned up on the day and made a difference. A blessed day indeed!