Relief for Refugees

Thank you for all donations received so far. At a co-ordination meeting held on Thursdsay, attended by the Churchwardens, the specific needs of the displaced people were discussed. The Warehouse Trust project is co-ordinating the receipt and distribution of all donations, both of money and in kind. A list of their specific requirements is on the back noticeboard (copies also available). Any donations received at St Andrew’s will be given to the Warehouse. Their website, www.warehouse.org.za , will regularly update this list .

St Andrew’s Ministry to the Needy

Through the years, St Andrew’s has built up a wide range of varied outreach programmes. Our policy is to identify needs in the Cape Town area and address them with funding which is strictly monitored. Where-ever relevant, St Andrew’s tries to offer professional support by members of its congregation, as we consider that hands-on involvement is important for our understanding of the problems in society. By this process, the recipient charities realize that St Andrew’s wants to share their problems and successes and is not just dispensing money and walking away.

In conjunction with other churches, St Andrew’s runs a Soup Kitchen in Lansdowne. Through the greater part of the year, about 100 unemployed or homeless people receive nutritious soup and bread at the kitchen. It is enough to keep body and soul together.

Philani, which is a nutrition centre for malnourished children in Khayelitsha, is a wonderful project which has been running for years. Malnourished children are identified by social welfare officers, doctors and clinics and are referred to Philani where they receive more than just food. Their mothers are instructed in the nutritional needs of the children and are taught to do weaving which is very attractive and is sold on the tourist market. This provides the women with an income to support their families’ food needs. Meanwhile the children are cared for and educated in a pre-school attached to the Philani Centre. St Andrew’s has taken an interest in Philani for about 15 years, as their holistic approach to the problem of nutrition in the community is seen as particularly valuable.

St Andrew’s has a major programme to supply food parcels to victims of AIDS. 200 parcels (love packs) are packed monthly. Most of them are distributed through the Warehouse, which is the hub of the Anglican food-for–AIDS organization.

Pre-school support in township areas has long been an aspect of St Andrew’s outreach. We take a close interest in the well-being of 5 township schools.

St Anne’s in Woodstock is a refuge for street women with children. These unfortunate folk, who have often moved on to the streets to get away from an abusive relationship, are helped to regain their self-respect and find jobs. St Andrew’s has given this project financial and moral support for many years.

The Saartjie Centre and Safeline both offer help to abused women and children. Safeline is an advice office but Saartjie Baartman provides temporary shelter for women who have escape from abuse. They are assisted with counselling, legal and medical help and are trained in skills which will enable them to be self supporting.

The Noluthando School for the Deaf in Khayelitsha and Leliebloem House in Crawford are both wonderful institutions, which we enjoy supporting. So too are Woodside Special Care Centre and Includid ( Friends of Alexandra) which address the needs of mentally challenged children and adults respectively.

In the last three years, St Andrew’s has been developing a bursary programme to help disadvantaged children gain tertiary qualifications, so that they can provide much needed skills and become role models in their community.

The above charities are those with which St Andrew’s has a close association. There are several others, like The Peninsula School Feeding Association, which we recognize as serving a great need and for which we try to provide some financial support on an annual basis.

Contact the Parish Secretary for more information