January's Good Citizen spreads joy

GEORGE NEWS - The first George Good Citizen of the Month of 2019 is Janine Pretorius, a woman who believes there is no bigger joy than giving. Pretorius was voted citizen of the month for her sustained devotion to the children of ACVV Môreson Child and Youth Care Centre as well as the residents of Rosemoor Home for the Aged in George.

Via her shoebox gift programme, Pretorius, a past secretary of Môreson, ensures that each child and elderly person receives a personalised gift on his or her birthday as well as at Christmas. These two organisations are just two of many in the Southern Cape that benefit from the shoebox project driven by Pretorius and Anneline Smith from Oudtshoorn.

Pretorius told George Herald she could never do so much good by herself. "My friends, family and members of the public enable me to help others and for this I am eternally grateful. I get immense satisfaction from helping and supporting those who are not in the fortunate position to be independent. I think doing good is in my genes, as my mother was also very involved in welfare. I am so glad God can use me as an instrument to do good."

She thanked those who nominated and voted for her. To support Pretorius's cause, contact her at ninabrandt.pretorius1@gmail.com.

The George Good Citizen of the Year project kicked off in October last year. At the end of 2019, Georgians will choose their Good Citizen of the Year by voting via Facebook.

Do you know someone who unselfishly gives to our city without compensation or expectation? Someone who makes a difference? Then go to the We Are George Facebook page or the George Good Citizens Awards page and nominate that special person. You can also send your nomination to nominations@wearegeorge.co.za.