GEORGE NEWS - This Christmas was nothing short of magical in a small informal settlement called Powertown in Klein-Brak.
With hearts full of hope and a strong desire to make a real difference, Sentiara, a local animal welfare organisation, chose Powertown for a Christmas outreach. "We chose this informal settlement because it is small enough for us to reach every single child, and that was our goal - to leave no child out," says Salome Bruyns, who spearheads the organisation.
Thanks to the incredible support from the public, they were able to hand out 85 Christmas presents, each filled with sweets, as well as 120 hotdogs that brought smiles to little faces and ensured very full tummies.
"Alongside this, dog and cat food was also distributed, because Christmas is not only about people, but about caring for animals too," says Bruyns.
She thanked Anton Siebert from Project Blessing who stepped into the role of Santa. "He truly became Santa. As a teacher, Anton knows exactly how to connect with children, how to manage the excitement, and how to make each child feel seen and special. The children adore him, even without the Santa suit on, and his presence made the day unforgettable."
Bruyns also thanked every member of the public who supported the initiative.
"Your donations, kindness, and trust made this day possible. We also want to emphasise something close to our hearts: it is not about expensive gifts. Even second-hand or small toys mean the world to these children. To them, it is not about what the gift is - it is about being remembered, included, and loved.
"We did this outreach because every child deserves the joy of Christmas, the excitement of opening a present, and the feeling that they matter.
"We kindly ask for continued support so that we can keep bringing hope, dignity and joy into communities that need it most - not only at Christmas, but throughout the year. Together, we can keep creating moments that change lives, one smile at a time," said Bruyns.
Contact her on 076 202 0043 or via email.
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