Reach out to needy
|Published
OPPIT: Geared to give blankets OPPIT: Geared to give blankets
Businesses at an Ottery shopping plaza are digging deep into their pockets to give back to those in need.
On Sunday, 22 April, 1 000 families are to gather at the China Town shopping centre to meet their donors who have sponsored blankets and groceries, including 10kg of rice.
Keith Blake, who is involved in many other outreach programmes, says this initiative is now in its third year.
“I am very good friends with the shareholder [of China Town] and three years ago, when the initiative was started, he called me up and told me to get people in need whom he could help,” he says.
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“As a businessman he has a friend who is part of a Chinese-based foundation and he wanted to make a change here.”
Choosing 1 000 beneficiaries in a city where many are in need is not an easy job and Keith says this year they have chosen recipients from Grassy Park, Lotus River, Ottery, Wetton and Hanover Park.
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“I would then go to the community leaders in the areas and ask them to nominate families who are really struggling. The families chosen fill in a form which is handed back to me. The donor would then pick five families to visit and really see their plight.”
Before the event, the families will receive their goodies in a red Chinese bag.
“On Sunday, we have all families meet at China Town and we introduce them to the donor. We will also have all officials on site for crowd control,” Keith added.