Dear Friends,

I’d like to make mention of a number of important newsy items relating to a few of our programs and to some of our fantastic supporters. I want to be brief, so they appear in point form below:

–          We would like to extend a HUGE thank-you to Anthony West and Freedom Stationery for a generous donation of well over a ton (literally) of stationery towards our Shoebox Project! We are overwhelmed and deeply grateful for your care and support!

–          A HUGE thank-you, too, is due to Church of the Ascension in Hilton for a phenomenally generous donation of over a hundred complete shoebox gifts for the Shoebox Project.

–          South African Breweries’ BIS Division have donated a whopping 1242 completed shoebox gifts towards our Shoebox Project this year, thank-you Mzwandile and Edith and the many teams at BIS! .

–          We would also like to thank MONDI Shanduka Newsprint for their generous sponsorship of an entire ward – 300 children in all. Thank-you Thulani Khumalo, for your faithful support of our Shoebox Project over the years!

–          Another HUGE thank-you is due to Pat Abraham and Monette Brice and their families, sponsors and supporters in Jo’burg for sponsoring an entire ward (414 children) this year; you guys have again been phenomenal in your support of Shoebox and we are so very very grateful to you! Thank-you too to Pat’s daughter Vanessa at Exquisite Tastes for arranging Shoebox fundraiser dinners throughout the year in support of our work!

–          Thank-you too to Underberg and Ixopo Spars for making significant contributions towards our program for this year.

–          Christopher has asked me to extend our sincere thanks to the few special people in Johannesburg who sponsored balloons for the parties this year, thank-you for responding to his request so quickly and so generously.

–          We would also like to thank Kate Van Laun and her family for sponsoring our children’s’ Christmas party which took place last Friday. Thank-you too to the Pietermaritzburg Cathedral Womens’ Society for contributing towards the party.

–          We are also thrilled to report that the HNO craft projects have sold in excess of R17 000.00 worth of craft products this month alone thanks to the many many people who support and promote these projects! Lyndell and Mildred were interviewed on SAFM, nationwide, last week and we have had some really positive responses as a result! We are looking forward to all that the new year holds in store for the projects as they are taken forward by Mary Orpwood. Thank-you again Lyndell for all that you have done for these projects over the years!

–          Last but absolutely by no means least, we would like to thank Clare and Marc Barton of Kwazulu Natal Children’s Aid for raising a staggering £5500.00  for our Esinqobile Therapy Centre! We are overwhelmed and extremely grateful for all the support you have raised throughout the year!