GEORGE NEWS - Life Community Services hosted a breakfast at Shofar Church on Friday 1 April to thank their supporters and sponsors for their efforts and contributions to enable the ministry to do its work.
CEO Maryna de Vries said the last two years have been difficult due to the Covid pandemic, but the organisation has managed to keep its programmes going through prayer and the support of the community, businesses and staff.
She thanked every organisation, church, business and individual as well as Life's staff for their interest, contributions and dedication.
Life reaches out to the most vulnerable children in the community through Christian education and activities, and a feeding scheme.
De Vries said their private school, Life Christian Academy, started in 2017 with only a Grade 1 class. This year they welcomed their first Grade sixes. Preparations to have new classrooms to add Grade 7 in 2023 have already started.
Life's popular holiday club that draws children from all over George during school holidays, was presented in the March / April holiday for the first time since the Covid pandemic started.
Life daily feeds about 1 200 kids. The organisation's garden project supplies the kitchen and teaches the children to grow their own food. De Vries thanked the companies that donate additional vegetables as the garden does not provide in their full need.
An exhibition was also held of handmade products of Isipho, Life's main job creation project. It employs six full-time women who sew, knit and crochet products that are sold both online and at the shop on Life's office premises in Cradock Street.
One of the ways that the public can support Life in its objectives is by sponsoring a child's primary school education through a monthly donation of R350 (only R12 per day). Volunteers can also give of their time, knowledge, experience and talent.
Phone Life's office on 044 873 6601 or send an e-mail to reception@lifecommunity.co.za for more information on how you can get involved.
Children from Life's Happy Feet preschool impressed the audience with their singing and dancing numbers.
Staff and volunteers at Life Community Services' thank you breakfast, from left: Nevile Arnolds (field manager), Dewald Femboes (caterer), Mia Andries (finance manager), Philip de Vries (founder together with Maryna de Vries), Liesbet de Klerk (office manager), world-renowned surfer Bianca Buitendag (board member), CEO Maryna de Vries, Hannelie Ferreira (Happy Feet preschool principal),
Mary-Ann Huley (fees administrator) and Nadine Davids (manager of Isipho).
Photos: Ailda de Beer
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