IT’S the season for giving and the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino have once again assisted a Gqeberha non-profit organisation to uplift the needy in the community, spending close to R300 000 on upgrades. Healing Minds Community Services, a soup kitchen and day care centre in Walmer township, transfers skills to unemployed women in cookery, sewing, beadwork, gardening and knitting.
The Boardwalk has supported Healing Minds since 2017 and has previously provided a computer room, sewing room, kitchen upgrade and several donations of non-perishable items. “We have now completed a R277 000 renovation which included a new roof, bathroom sanitaryware upgrade, painting, replacing doors and windows, ceilings, electrical installations,” said the Boardwalk general manager, Tati Tsunke.
Recycling company ITAD Africa sponsored R10 000 for water tanks.
“Coca-Cola has installed a R350 000 bakery for the organisation and the Boardwalk has followed through on this by having our talented chefs train the women to bake bread and cakes to sell to the local community,” said Tsunke.
The Boardwalk’s donations to Healing Minds in the past five years total more than R600 000.
Raising money by selling baked goods and beadwork helps Healing Minds sustain themselves, as they feed an average of 120 people daily, running a creche with 52 children and an aftercare facility, as well as a feeding scheme.
Nontembiso Mangaliso, Healing Minds Founder, said challenges included having many mouths to feed and not enough food.
“The Boardwalk has helped us to give more people a plate of food. Many of our recipients have to survive on their government pension grant alone,” said Mangaliso.
The NPO has a vegetable garden which supplements their food.
“Private-public partnerships like this are key to helping address the challenges faced by many Walmer township residents. We are happy to do what we can to help these marginalised members of our community to improve their lives,” Tsunke said.
– ISSUED BY CORPORATE IMAGE
