ACTS OF MERCY REPORT FEBRUARY 2021

More than 72 individuals are currently being supported with food parcels purchased with the help of funding from The Waterberg Trust’s Covid 19 Appeal. You can read more about this here.

Sister Grace writes to say, “I continued with routine assessment through home visits to reach out to those with social problems due to various issues and also monitor those who are chronically ill to ensure they are taking their medication as prescribed.” She was able to refer 5 families to the social development for application of ID documents and social grants for their children.

“I do co-ordinate with network partners who are involved in supporting the community with food distribution and other social relief. These are religious groups from various churches, party representatives and youth organizations.”

CHALLENGES:

• Job loss as a result of the country’s economic challenges due Covid-19 restrictions
• Poor living conditions in informal settlements with no proper sanitation or irregular water supply.
• Lack of knowledge and information about the Covid-19 pandemic and preventative measures, which leads to many not taking the proper precautions of wearing masks and regular hand wash. “I interviewed about 20 elderly people who were not wearing masks and they simply said they don’t see a reason to wear a mask when the virus is not known in the community and they have no proper information about the infection and risks. After proper explanation about ways of transmission and signs and symptoms they understood and willing to adhere to preventive measures.”
• 3 chronically ill foreign nationals who have no family support were referred to homebased carers for regular monitoring.

SUCCESS STORIES:

• Food parcels and clothes were distributed to needy people
• The Government extended the Social Relief Grant by three months to ensure those unemployed are able to provide food for their families during this Lockdown period.
• A homeless man was assisted with a bus ticket to return back to Cape Town and was grateful for the assistance rendered.

DONATIONS of clothes, reusable sanitary towels, beanies and stationary from the Christians of St John’s Baptist Church at 24 Rivers came at the right time when schools reopened. These essentials were handed out to the less privileged learners and others in the community. Those who received the donated items and food parcels were grateful.

Sister Grace says, “I will continue to distribute food parcels as per scheduled during mid-month of March and emergency needs will be attended to immediately.” You can read about some of here home visits earlier in the year here.

“During home visits, I came across a teenage mom who had delivered a baby girl. She lives with her grandparents and her siblings as they lost their parents long ago. I examined the baby who looked healthy. The teenage mom wants to go back to school in her final grade and will leave her baby with her grandmother who will support baby from her pension and buy formula. The father to the baby is unknown. I brought baby clothes and a food parcel, counselling the mother about proper care of her baby and the risks of malnutrition if the baby is not properly fed.”

If you could help with this important work in the Waterberg, please find out how you cold make a donation here The Waterberg Trust have a Justgiving page here.