Ark shelters gain traction
According to Pastor Jason Currie, who heads the initiative, different programmes are being facilitated by the Department of Social Development to interact with the shelters' guests
THE Ark project, established to address the plight of the homeless in the region during the national lockdown, is functioning well with stable numbers reported at the city shelters.
According to Pastor Jason Currie, who heads the initiative, different programmes are being facilitated by the Department of Social Development to interact with the shelters’ guests.
These include sport clinics and drug awareness programmes, while the department is also helping some of the homeless to make contact with their families.
Currie said the long-term idea is to develop a concept of a transitional village for the homeless, where a supportive community collectively helps people break away from addiction, heal past wounds, develop skills and then assimilate back into society.
Working rapidly to ensure the homeless were taken off the streets when the national lockdown was implemented, organisers screened the homeless and provided them with shelter and other services at community halls in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
A food parcels drive was also initiated during this time and hundreds of grocery packs have been successfully distributed.
‘Going forward, we aim to raise funds for 100 food parcels at a time, which will be delivered to partnering NGOs by our volunteers.
‘Some organisations or companies are also fund-raising, but don’t have the logistics to buy, pack and distribute the goods, which we offer to do on a company’s behalf.
‘There is also a need for masks and we are collecting as many as we can,’ said Currie.
‘A few passionate people have started to raise funds to buy material and elastic and sew masks.
‘These are being handed out free to patients in queues at clinics. Anyone who would like to support this programme can contact us on 082 7217547, or visit https://thearkshelter.org.za/ or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArkShelterFromTheStorm.
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