If you live anywhere near our Cape Town branch, you already know that we are facing a crisis. The Western Cape has been devastated by this winter storm, bringing torrential winds, heavy rain, flooding, and mudslides all around us. Tens of thousands of residents and businesses have suffered roof damage and flooding, leaving many in vulnerable conditions, and the inclement weather is expected to continue.
Already this week, our Community Response Team has been tirelessly working around the clock, providing hot meals, checking on our sick and vulnerable clients, and assessing the widespread damage. We are actively assessing the damage in the communities we serve, including Masiphumelele, Capricorn, Vrygrond, Overcome, Redhill, and Oceanview. At this point, we estimate that 7,000 to 10,000 households urgently need our support.
In addition to this overwhelming need, the Living Hope Agricultural Programme has been hit hard. Last night, 102km wind gusts tore the roof and sides off four of our tunnels and our largest shade net. Despite our students’ and facilities teams’ best efforts to save seedlings and reinforce structures, we have likely lost our entire crop. The damage to the farm, combined with the lost crop, is estimated to be around R280,000.
What this means is that our staff at Living Hope are now fighting this storm on two fronts: addressing the damage to our infrastructure and providing critical assistance to our communities. We urgently need your prayers and support.
We anticipate needing up to 10,000 items of food support, large waterproof storage containers, clothing, blankets, mattresses, and hygiene kits, and we must purchase dry food goods in bulk. These will be distributed as quickly as we can purchase them, but we need funding of over R1 million to get this monumental task completed.
How You Can Help
Living Hope is in URGENT need of donations which can be dropped off with our Capri gate hosts:
7 Kommetjie Main Road, Capri, 7975 (Opposite SunnyAcres Shopping Centre)
- Clothing, bedding, and blankets are desperately needed to help those who have lost everything.
- Bulk food items and dry goods are also in high demand to support affected communities.
Please consider donating toward our relief and rebuilding efforts by giving online at www.livinghope.co.za/donate, clicking the blue button below, or through EFT to our designated disaster relief account. Every donation counts! We can provide an 18A Tax Certificate for donations.
Living Hope Trust, First National Bank, Longbeach Mall, Noordhoek
Account: Living Hope Trust – Disaster Appeal Account
Account No: 62672419267
Branch Code: 250655
Reference: Your email address
Your support during this devastating storm is greatly appreciated. Together, we can help our vulnerable communities recover and rebuild.
Thank you for your generosity and compassion.
Victor Thomas
Executive Director
P.S. Pictures can’t capture the scope of the damage but we have included a few below to give you a sense of the challenges. Please check our social media for more regular updates.
