Flood of help for car family

Cape Town 121202- Dennis and Amanda Minnar stay in the car with their two children.Even thoght they dont have a place to stay, they make sure that their children goes to school. Amanda sells handbags and Dennis sells plumbing material.Picture Cindy waxa.Reporter Yolisa/Argus

Cape Town 121202- Dennis and Amanda Minnar stay in the car with their two children.Even thoght they dont have a place to stay, they make sure that their children goes to school. Amanda sells handbags and Dennis sells plumbing material.Picture Cindy waxa.Reporter Yolisa/Argus

Published Dec 13, 2012

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Cape Argus - Readers have opened their hearts and offered to help a Cape Town family living in their car near the Kenilworth Centre.

Things have been looking up for the Minnaar family since the Cape Argus reported details of their plight last week. The family have been living in their car since falling on hard times.

Droves of e-mails and phone calls from Cape Town, Durban and Joburg readers have been received, offering all kinds of assistance - from groceries to new places to live.

Amanda and Dennis Minnaar have been living in their dilapidated Datsun Pulsar for more than a year since being evicted from a rented house in Ottery. They have managed to send their two children, aged nine and 16, to school despite their circumstances.

Amanda was proud to report that her children did well at school and were progressing to Grades 4 and 9.

She said that with the gifts there had been offers of help with school uniforms for next year.

They had received a lot of help from many “kind strangers” and companies and the family appreciated all the help given.

“Some people come by and give money and some just leave groceries, and we got a R500 food voucher from Pick n Pay,” Amanda said.

“We would like to thank all those who have helped us in any way, no matter how big or small.”

Pick n Pay has been discussing helping the family with a place to stay. Its marketing manager in the Western Cape, Mark Jennings, said meetings were being held to try to help the family out permanently.

Tacoma Foods is also planning to assist. Its chief officer, Greg Balfour, said the family’s situation touched him deeply.

“Tacoma Foods has been really touched and affected by the family’s situation, especially the education of the children,” Balfour said. The company was hoping to get involved in the long-term plans to help the family, such as with accommodation.

Amanda said her husband had received temporary and permanent job offers for the new year. They hoped this Christmas would be a good one. “We will make the most of the day.”

Cape Argus

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