
26/07/2025
Tongaat Child Welfare seeks support to get back on its feet
Despite devastating flooding that washed out their flagship annual Charity Fair, Tongaat Child and Family Welfare has refused to let hardship stand in the way of serving the community — honouring Mandela Day with compassion and rallying support through a series of fundraisers to recover from their losses.
Speaking on behalf of the welfare, social worker Fee Dawood said the flood damage, which occurred the night before the much-anticipated Charity Fair, destroyed the event grounds, infrastructure, and equipment, leaving the organisation in desperate need of financial assistance.
“Since the flood, we’ve been doing everything possible to raise funds. We’re calling this our Recovery Benefit Fundraiser Series because it’s truly about survival and rebuilding.”
One of the first events in this recovery effort was a Barnyard fundraiser held on 27 June, which kickstarted their momentum leading into Mandela Day on Friday, 18 July. Refusing to cancel their Mandela Day outreach despite limited resources and no major sponsors, the team made a heartfelt appeal to supporters — and the response was overwhelming.
“Through generous cash and in-kind donations, we were able to reach our full target,” said Dawood. “That’s 107 winter care hampers, each with 19 essential items listed on our donation poster, 107 pillows and blankets, and 107 sets of scarves, beanies, and socks — all distributed to our clients, who are among the most vulnerable in our society.”
In addition, the team prepared soup from 7am on Mandela Day morning and distributed 200 cups of hot soup and 200 loaves of bread at the Tongaat Community Health Centre, providing relief to patients and families.
“Those ingredients were all sponsored, and the smiles we saw made it so worth the early start,” Dawood added.
The day also included a special treat for 50 children, who were sponsored to attend the circus — a moment of joy and wonder for many who seldom have such opportunities.
“These aren’t just numbers — these are lives we’re trying to uplift every single day,” Dawood said.
“As an NPO, we rely entirely on donor funding to keep delivering services like child protection, counselling, food relief, and family support.”
She said Tongaat Child and Family Welfare extends heartfelt thanks to all sponsors, donors, volunteers, and well-wishers whose generosity and support made their Mandela Day initiatives and ongoing recovery efforts possible.
With the loss of the Charity Fair revenue still looming, the organisation is now focusing on an urgent upcoming fundraiser: the Recovery Benefit Gold Cup, set to take place on 27 July at the HollywoodBets Greyville Racecourse.
“We’re calling on the community to support us by buying tickets or making contributions,” urged Dawood. “Every rand goes towards continuing the vital work we do.”
Looking ahead, they are also planning a Recovery Benefit Concert in August to further aid their efforts.
To purchase tickets or support the cause, contact Tongaat Child and Family Welfare at [email protected] or 032 944 1514.