GEORGE NEWS - A committee to raise funds and interest-free loans for Life Community Services (LCS) is looking to the public and business to assist the non-profit Christian organisation to buy their own premises.
LCS has been renting the current premises for the past 17 years, but had to start looking for an alternative site since their rental contract came to an end in the middle of last year. Their landlord, Aboobaker Ismail, has kindly agreed that they can rent on a month-to-month basis up until the construction of the planned filling station starts.
However, Ismail has granted LCS the option of buying the current premises (located on the corner of Mandela Boulevard and Main Street) at a price of R5-million.
In the meantime, they are also trying to find an alternative site. Life's CEO, Maryna de Vries, says they are negotiating with the owner of a property in Mandela Boulevard to sell them a piece of land.
"The fundraising committee is asking for people to loan us money to cover the R5-million, interest free, to purchase the current property, erf 11221. We have set up a ring-fenced account at Millers Attorneys for this. To date, we have received a donation of about R500 000 and the committee is waiting on about R1,5-million commitment monies."
De Vries says they have improved and developed the current facilities over the years.
The kitchen where food for the children is prepared, a sewing project, a recently established private school (Grades 1 to 3), an aftercare facility, vegetable gardens as well as some offices are located on the property. They will need a similar sized property and it should be in the same area so that they can be close to the communities they serve.
LCS is furthermore negotiating with the owners of two small houses behind its Happy Feet crèche in Cradock Street to sell the houses to them. "This would enable us to register the Happy Feet classes with the department of education," says De Vries.
For more information on LCS and what they do, visit their website, www.lifecommunity.co.za.
People wanting to help with sponsorship, may call David on 074 889 7956 or the LCS office on 044 873 6601.
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