GEORGE NEWS - Like every year, the purpose of the 9th annual Gourmets and Gourmands is to raise awareness for the special needs of the 350 disabled students of Carpe Diem School. Hartman and Sons Butchery is the main sponsor of this annual event.
Every year the Garden Route community learns more about this gem of a school, its learners and the facilities it offers to the local community. The day-to-day running of Carpe Diem School comes at great financial expense.
For the past 18 years students from surrounding areas between Plettenberg Bay to Mossel Bay have been attending Carpe Diem school.
Separate hostels accommodate 82 boys and girls on the school grounds. Daily, 180 students are fetched from their homes with six customised buses that accommodate wheelchairs.
The principal, Karools Hauptfleisch, manages the school with 29 full time teachers, one nursing sister and 46 supporting staff that includes a psychologist, occupational health therapist, physiotherapist, speech therapist and parents and volunteers.
The school also has an inclusive education team which consists of a psychologist, learning support teacher and occupational health therapist.
Gourmets and Gourmands has been established as Carpe Diem's most successful fundraising event.
In the past, funds raised at this event was used to buy three electronic wheelchairs, make bathrooms in the hostels accessible for disabled children, close the roof of the square, upgrade the computer laboratory and renew the floor of the basketball court.
This year the school wishes to establish a new feeding scheme eating area where about 140 children will be fed. With sponsors such as Hartman & Sons Butchery, Raffaele D'Amato Jewellers who donate a spectacular item to be auctioned off, Nedbank, local artist René Scribante, Michael Pashut of Commercial Auto & Bus, Fancy Functions, Xerox and Ciro Coffee the event will undoubtedly be a success.
For more information about this year's Gourmets and Gourmands, please contact principal Karools Hauptfleisch on 044 874 4074 or e-mail carpekarools@telkomsa.net or follow Carpe Diem School on their Facebook page.
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