To provide the elderly in Humansdorp with a safe place where they can have fun, the Nation Builders Prophetic Apostolic Movement (NBPAM) is hoping to refurbish the dilapidated Old Age Resource Centre in Arcadia.
As previously reported by the Kouga Express, Pastor Ashwell Goliath, his wife, Nicolette, and members of their prayer group initially began taking care of the elderly in need by providing them with food parcels and restoring their dilapidated homes.
As Goliath continued to assist the elderly in the community, with help from those who have joined his organisation, he quickly realised the need for a day-care facility for the elderly and identified the Old Age Resource Centre in Arcadia, Humansdorp, as a centre where they could offer their services.
Unfortunately, Goliath said that the building was vandalised in 2020, before the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown.
“Everything inside the building has been stolen and there is nothing left. There are no doors, windows, toilets, fridges or stoves,” said Goliath.
“There is no fence surrounding the premises and all power cables have been stolen.”
Goliath further said that thieves are currently breaking down the roof of the building. He said, for his organisation to make use of the building, they would have to embark on serious repairs and renovations.
While doing research about the centre, Goliath discovered that the centre was being leased by the Protea Bejaardes Klub.
He said he has attempted to arrange a meeting with the board members of the club, but since they are no longer active in the community, he has found it difficult to get the necessary information he needs to possibly make use of the building.
“I hope to soon find the answers I need to rescue the facility that was built for the elderly in the community,” said Goliath.
He said that his desire is to use the centre from 10:00 to 14:00 each week for prayer sessions with the elderly, provide meals, offer health awareness programmes, play games and offer skills development among other activities.
“We are also hoping to have the centre operate as a multi-purpose facility where we will run our community nutrition development project to provide meals to those in need,” said Goliath.
While they continue to wait for more clarity about the building, he said that his organisation hosts weekly sessions with the elderly people at the library in Humansdorp but needs a place to prepare the meals and cook food for the elderly at their weekly events. They are currently preparing the meals at their home.
Goliath further said they also need transport for the elderly, cutlery and crockery, cookware, gas burners and office equipment such as laptops, printers and stationery.
To show their appreciation to the elderly who have joined their organisation, he said that they will be hosting a Christmas party tomorrow, December 16, at the Victory Hall, Graslaagte.
In order to host the Christmas party, they hosted a successful fund-raising event on December 9, where they sold braai meals to the community in Humansdorp.
- For more info, contact Pastor Ashwell Goliath on 072 208 4230 or email nbpam.humie@gmail.com.
