Donations keep winter chills at bay COSMO CITY – Volunteers work together to donate winter essentials to community members and organisations.

Volunteers Di van Zyl, Lyn van Zyl and Rosanela Pierce prepare snacks for the soup kitchen.

Organisations collaborated and opened their hearts to the community through giving back during the last week of June.

Imvuno Enhle, Randburg Square and Liberty Church in Cosmo City made the handovers possible.

Randburg Square marketing manager Rosanela Pierce said the centre hosted the Walk in their Shoes campaign where 1 017 pairs shoes were collected at the end of April. A total of 120 shoes were donated to the Knysna disaster initiative, and 300 pairs were also donated to the Doxa Deo Randburg Street Store, which will kick off on 1 July at the Windsor Recreation Centre.

Volunteers who are passionate about helping people. 

“We then partnered with NPO Imvuno Enhle to distribute the remaining shoes collected in conjunction with their charity initiatives. These include delivering winter items to homeless people on the streets of Randburg at 5am, and participating in a soup kitchen at Liberty Church at 8am. Afterwards, myself and the Imvuno team visited three homes where we dropped off food, clothing and shoes,” said Pierce.

Randburg Square marketing manager Rosanela Pierce prepares soup at Liberty Church.

She added these charities included Frida Hartley Shelter for Destitute Women and Children, Bethany Home, and Home of Hope. Liberty Church volunteer Lyn van Zyl said she believes it is great to get in touch with the community this way. She was one of the volunteers at the church’s soup kitchen that takes place every Saturday during winter.

A homeless man receives a pair of shoes.

“When you see these little children in the middle of winter with no shoes and warm clothes, it’s very touching to see their joy when you give them a warm meal,” said Van Zyl.

Bethany Home receive hampers for the children.

Children from the community show their excitement at Liberty Church. 

Displaced people keep warm with donated blankets. 

Members of the community during the soup kitchen initiative.

More shoes will be donated at the next drive at the end of July. For more information on how to get involved, visit the Imvuno Enhle Facebook page.

Pierce thanked everyone who donated shoes and clothing, including all the sponsors who made the initiative a great success.