Durban - Share your “pre-loved” treasure with people who will love it again ‒ that’s the call from the Robinhood Foundation South Africa in their Share Your Treasure Campaign.
The foundation is asking you to donate any previously loved items now unwanted, but still in good condition, for their “Gogo bag”, a food hamper filled with non-perishable food such as maize, samp, rice, soya mince, sugar, tea, canned items as well as blankets and second-hand clothing.
They want to add household items such as clothing, linen, towels, accessories, handbags and shoes.
Robinhood coordinator Natalie Ogden said the Share Your Treasure Campaign aimed to provide support to the elderly women who could not provide for themselves and their grandchildren.
“Our beneficiaries are gogos living in semi-rural areas of KZN. The gogos are all part of the bigger community who share and swop the items as needed, encouraging kindness, generosity and community support,” said Ogden.
“In the past, we hosted Mahala Markets, where the gogos could ‘shop’ for the items they needed but because of Covid-19, we select items for the bags and advise gogos to swop and share if the item is too big or small.
“We did start Mahala Markets again at the end of last year and hope we will be able to host many more this year,” said Ogden.
She said the gogos were always happy to receive the donations.
“The donation is three fold: the gogo is provided with some sustainable food items they have identified as helpful and beneficial, and the clothing and linen allows them to clothe the children in their care, and assist other gogos and parents in their community who need clothing.
“The campaign is a small way of asking those who have to not store up unnecessarily: the shirt you will never wear again or blanket sitting in your cupboard are all useful to someone such as the gogos we serve.
“It is also beautiful to watch an item go home with someone who thinks your pre-loved item is an absolute treasure,” said Ogden.
She said the Robinhood foundation was established by Cindy Norcott, who came up with simple yet profound campaigns that allow the public to be part of the movement of generosity and kindness.
The gogo bags have been going for almost 17 years and the Share Your Treasure Campaign is an ongoing project.
Drop-off points are: CGA Agencies, 235 Underwood Road, Pinetown; Broadway Pharmacy, 5 Swapo Road, Durban North; Wool ‘n Weave, Lillies Quarter, Old Main Road, Hillcrest; Dormehl Phalane Real Estate, Gillitts Centre, Clifton Road; Washwell Granada Laundry, 16 Chartwell Drive, uMhlanga; Pro Talent, Suite 6, The Viewz, 11 The Boulevard, Westview Office Park, Westville.
Donors are asked to place items in black plastic bags for easy pick-up.
The Independent on Saturday