Thanks to donations and helping hands from many in the community, Tharros Child and Youth Care Centre in Hankey is one step closer to opening their doors again, after experiencing a devastating fire at their centre last year.
As previously reported by the Kouga Express, a fire began in the storeroom of the centre and quickly spread to other sections of their property, in September last year, which resulted in the temporary closure of the centre.
Taise Sampson, founder of the centre, said that since the fire occurred, they had not been able to use the centre, as it was uninhabitable.
“All the bedrooms upstairs were smoke damaged, and the bathrooms were totally ruined,” said Sampson.
“Since the fire occurred, the building has been looking very sad.”
Sampson said they were desperate to have the inside and outside of the building in a better state.
She said part of the building that was burnt needed to be demolished and renovated and the smoke damaged rooms on the second floor needed to be repainted.
Since the building was more than 100 years old, Sampson said they had taken the opportunity to upgrade and renovate areas of the home that desperately needed it.
Following the fire at the centre, she said individuals, businesses, and organisations had opened their hearts and supported the centre financially and with goods.
“The support from so many was truly encouraging and amazing,” said Sampson.
Some of the donations they received included, beds, bedding, and curtains, from Volpes in Gqeberha, while St Francis Bay Rotary Club sponsored new windows.
Furthermore, residents in St Francis Bay donated bathroom equipment, a fully fitted kitchen and bedroom cupboards.
Woodridge College and Preparatory School have supported with various fund-raisers and donations.
In addition, Myburg Ferreira, a Patensie resident, donated storage space in Hankey for the past seven months for all the donations received, while local NPO, Masikhathalelaneni, has continued to assist the centre by transporting goods and providing additional storage space when needed.
Most recently, volunteers from the NPO, Sakhe Family Care Development Centre, spent at least eight days at the centre, washing the walls that had been damaged by the smoke from the fire, cutting grass and cleaning out weeds from the grass and the paved area.
“Removing soot from the walls is no mean feat, and I can vouch that their muscles were put to the test,” said Sampson.
She said, since January, they had been operating in the community with help from supporting schools and families and would only take children in at the centre once renovations were complete.
Sampson further said that they had appointed a contractor and planned to begin with renovations at the centre later this month.
She said that they had secured a good amount of funding for most of the renovation project; however, there was still a shortfall in funding.
Sampson said that specific donations towards building material would be much appreciated. To support the centre’s renovation project contact Taise Sampson on 083 500 0910.
“It is very exciting for us to be on a path towards restoration. We are moving closer to having our home back,” said Sampson.
