The Nerina Gardens old-age home says it has reached a R100 000 fund-raising goal thanks to donations and support from the Fish Hoek community.
In July, the home embarked on a “Lights for Nights” fund-raiser to cut costs and better equip the facility during load shedding as it was, at that time, spending R15 240 on diesel per month to run the generator (“Nerina running costs spike from load shedding,” Echo July 21).
Nerina Gardens manager Sandy Lovick said as load shedding increased in September the cost of diesel per month was R22 983.
She said the home’s first fund-raising event, an open day, was held in July.
“It was lovely to see so many people visit throughout the day. It was the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that we had so many visitors,” she said.
She said the total amount raised during the day was R13 123.
In August, the home hosted a quiz night and raised R2 550. This was followed by a high tea and a grandparents’ day. The home raised R8 050 at the high tea and R5 178 at the grandparents’ day.
Earlier this month, they hosted a candlelight dinner and auction where R12 300 was raised.
“It was such a beautiful event and everyone had so much fun,” said Ms Lovick.
She said she had designed a chart in the shape of a light bulb that was put up in the foyer so that residents could follow the progress of the fund-raising.
A different part of the light bulb would be coloured in every time a fund-raising goal had been achieved.
On the night of the candlelight dinner and auction, she could finally colour in the top part of the light bulb.
“It was such a relief and everyone cheered,” she said.
The balance had been donated by family members and members of the public and the Rotary Club Cape of Good Hope had made a donation while the Fish Hoek Valley Ratepayers’ and Residents’ association had contributed to the electrical efficiency drive, she said.
Members of the community had donated rechargeable lights for 10 residents and they “were overwhelmed by the support from everyone.”
Ms Lovick said to reduce the use of the generator the home had identified essential areas that must have power during blackouts and consulted an electrician on how to automatically connect the generator only to essential emergency areas when the power goes out.
The home is also in the process of having emergency lights fitted in the passageways.
David Sylvester, chairman of Fish Hoek Eldercare, the non-profit organisation that runs Nerina Gardens, Carlisle Lodge, and Chapman’s House, said he was delighted that the staff and residents managed to reach their fund-raising goals in these very difficult economic times.
The home will hold its final fund-raising event for the year, a concert by the Cape Town Concert Brass, on Saturday December 3, at 3pm, at Fish Hoek High School.
Tickets cost R100 a person and R50 for pensioners and pupils. Tickets are available at the Nerina Gardens reception or at the venue on the day.
