The reality is that people can collect (just) enough money through begging to avoid starvation, but not enough to change their situation. Often too, money is spent on alcohol or drugs as they try their best to escape the reality of life on the streets.

The Give Responsibly initiative, is endorsed by the Stellenbosch Municipality, and produces coupons which can be exchanged for a night’s stay at the Stellenbosch Night Shelter and includes two meals. It is an easy and effective way to help. Simply buy paper-based coupons from participating shops and pass them onto to homeless people instead of offering money.

“We want to foster kindness, mutual respect and dignity during encounters between people in need and the general public, whilst providing the opportunity for beneficiaries to receive further support.”

And this is the long-term goal of the Give Responsily programme. As coupon recipients exchange their coupons for shelter, they are able to connect with NGOs and partnering organisations in order to receive additional support and services.

Help us and give responsibly by purchasing coupons at any one of Stellenbosch’s participating outlets (the logos are listed on the website).

Are you a business owner who would like to become actively involved in the Give Responsibly campaign by selling coupons? Interested parties/potential vendors can contact Michelle Aalbers on Michelle.Aalbers@stellenbosch.gov.za.

For most of us, the very idea of being homeless is inconceivable. For others, homelessness is just one payslip, rental increase or unexpected change in circumstance away. But for many in our small community, homelessness – and the struggle to stay physically safe, warm, clean and fed – is a daily reality.

Since 1991, the incredible team at the Stellenbosch Night Shelter has been providing a safe space, overnight accommodation, a hot shower, laundry facilities, nutritious meals and, above all, kindness, to the most vulnerable people in Stellenbosch.

Much more than a bed for the night, the shelter also provides access to social work services, training programmes (for example gardening skills or domestic work), and life skills training (CVs, applying for jobs, interview skills etc.).

For Denise Paulse and her team, inclusion, dignity and respect is at the heart of everything they do.

“It’s now harder than ever for marginalised groups to access shelter, food, basic ablution facilities and medical care,” says Denise. “It is our mission to provide these amenities with care and compassion, while offering assistance – and choices – wherever we can.”

At the moment the Stellenbosch Night Shelter is running a small environment cleaning project where participants are paid a stipend to help keep the area around the Shelter and the nearby day clinic clean.

“We love good news stories,” says Denise. “One of the men involved in the cleaning project has just told us that he has secured a new job as a security guard – starting on his birthday, which is the best birthday present ever! From now on he’ll work night shifts, sleeping during the day at the Shelter while he gets back on his feet.”

You can support the tireless work of the Stellenbosch Night Shelter team through the Give Responsibly campaign. Purchase coupons which can be exchanged by recipients for a night’s stay and give a homeless person the gift of shelter, food and warmth – and the opportunity to receive further support.

In addition, the Night Shelter always welcomes donations of tinned food, soup ingredients, fresh vegetables and fruit, coffee, sugar, powder milk, spreads for bread, toilet paper, toiletries and cleaning materials. At the moment there is a huge need for preloved men’s clothing in sizes 28 – 36 and shoes/tekkies in sizes 6 – 10. Ladies clothing is welcome, for example winter jackets, hoodies, track pants/tops, socks – as well as blankets and second-hand towels and face clothes.

Times are tough. And we know that when times are tough more animals are surrendered to shelters, fewer people are able to make donations, and fewer families are able to offer one of the Animal Welfare Society Stellenbosch’s gorgeous, furry residents a forever home.

Alternatively, if you can’t offer your time, cash donations are always welcome and go a long way to support AWSS’s ongoing initiatives, including their busy on-site animal clinic, outreach programme (treating animals in the community), schools programme (raising awareness around animal welfare) and sterilisation programme.

Jessica Perrins, Head of Fundraising and Communications, says the AWSS depends almost entirely on the generosity of individuals, trusts, foundations, testators, and corporate partners who share in their mission to “recognise animals as living beings with the right to a good quality life”.

This is your chance to make a difference! You can:

• Donate your pre-loved clothing and second-hand goods to their Dog Box Charity Shop;
• Make a monetary donation at https://awss.co.za/get-involved/donate/;
• Sign up for a My School Card at https://www.myschool.co.za/portal/register;
• Leave a legacy by joining their Dream Builders Bequest Society; and
• Donate tinned pet food.

For more information, contact Jessica on fundraiser@awws.co.za.

South Africa’s economic woes deepened during the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact on households and communities has been profound – and heartbreaking. There are so many more hungry to people to feed, including young children who need sufficient food and nutrition to grow, learn and stay healthy. Stellenbosch Feeding in Action serves FREE lunch eveny Monday to Friday at 12h00 at the Bergzicht Taxi Rank.

When Stellenbosch Feeding in Action was first founded by Dr Dora Steyn in 1994, they had one feeding point in central Stellenbosch. Today, 28 years later, there are 60 feeding points in 15 communities in and around Stellenbosch – each contributing to the daily nutritional needs of 4000+ children and 1000+ adults.

It is a mammoth undertaking made possible by Feeding in Action’s 300 volunteers. A phenomenal group of people who are involved in the preparing and cooking food, transporting supplies to feeding points, and serving meals to anyone in need.

“Our aim is to provide nutritious and satisfying food to anyone who is hungry, whether they are struggling households or people who are homeless, sick or vulnerable,” says  Liesel Koen of Feeding in Action. “We believe that no hungry person should ever be turned away. We also work closely with schools, crèches and other organisations, like Stellenbosch Municipality Disaster Management, Youth Outreach and the Stellenbosch Night Shelter. Through our network of organisations, we are able to reach even more people in need every year.”

Of course, they can’t do it alone. You can support the Feeding in Action team with much-needed donations of fresh and non-perishable food supplies, including: tinned food (for example, baked beans, curried vegetables, pilchards, bully beef, tomato & onion, and apricot jam etc.), maize meal, oats, pasta, rice, soup mix, samp and beans, lentils, split peas, brown soup powder, spreads (like peanut butter or cheese spread), long life milk, coffee, tea, sugar, cake or bread flour, dry yeast, mayonnaise and cooking oil. Fresh supplies such as bread, vegetables and fruit are also always welcome!

Another great idea? Help Feeding in Action to assist more families in need by getting a group of friends together to make ‘Jars of Hope’.

One ‘Jar of Hope’, which provides a meal for a family of four, includes:

• 250 ml Soup Mix (1 cup)
• 250 ml (1 cup)
• 1 Packet of Soup Powder
• 250 ml Lentils             
• 250 ml Pasta (for example, macaroni)
• 1 Stock Cube

For more information on how to get involved please visit https://www.feedinginaction.co.za/donate/ or contact Liesel on voedingsaksie@telkomsa.net or 071 322 0747.