A Plumstead home for teenage girls has opened a charity shop to raise money for the upkeep of its building.
Bonita Hendricks, director of the St Michael’s Child and Youth Care Centre, in Hemyock Road, said the centre needed to fix leaks, connect a water tank to its plumbing and get fire-compliance certificates.
The centre is home to 25 girls aged 13 to 18. “’The home takes in girls who may need head-space or shelter for two days and also girls who are orphaned or refugees, who have to stay on until they reach the age of 18 with us,” said Ms Hendricks.
The girls in the home go to schools in Plumstead, and many of them have special needs. Ms Hendricks said it was hard to pay for school fees as well as the upkeep of the building.
“We are funded by the Western Cape Department of Social Development, but it is not enough for everything. The subsidy doesn’t fund the staff’s fees. We have had to find alternative ways to keep running.”
According to provincial Department of Social Development spokeswoman Cayla Murray, the department gives St Michael’s R3 088 a month for each child. Ms Murray said the subsidy helped to pay for staff salaries.
Ms Hendricks said the centre had managed to survive so far from donations and by renting out a portion of its building and holding various fund-raisers.
Ms Hendricks urged the Plumstead community to be more involved in the home whether through volunteering, supporting its fund-raisers or donating to or buying from its charity shop.
“We’re trying to encourage these girls to look past their current situation. They all deserve a better future.”
The charity shop offers a variety of clothing items, blankets, jewellery, books, shoes and more. It opens weekly while the girls are at school from 9am to 1pm. It will also be open at least one Saturday a month.
