9Miles Project’s CAB Day Brings Relief and Dignity to 40 Families in Elands Bay

Photo Credit: Supplied by Haley Willenberg (9Miles Project)

Everyone deserves to feel at home, regardless of their financial circumstances. Thanks to generously donated household essentials, the 9Miles Project’s CAB initiative was able to give 40 Elands Bay families the opportunity to ‘shop’ for their homes with dignity amid unemployment and financial hardship.

Elands Bay, South Africa (14 October 2026) – For families facing unemployment and financial uncertainty, the simple everyday items that turn a house into a home can often feel out of reach. Just the thought of stocking up on basics like groceries, laundry detergent, and clothes brings a wave of stress, endless mental math, and tough decisions about which essential needs to take priority over the others.

For Allesia, an unemployed parent from Elands Bay, this is a daily struggle she knows all too well. However, thanks to initiatives like the 9Miles Project’s recent Come and Buy Without Money (CAB) Day, she and many other families got to receive practical support – and a much-needed sense of relief.

Held on Saturday, 10 October, CAB gave 40 families in Elands Bay the chance to shop for donated clothing, kitchenware, books, and household essentials, free. The initiative created a welcoming space where parents could choose what they needed with dignity, free from the financial pressure that usually comes with shopping.

For Allesia, the event meant the world. She shared that she looks forward to CAB all year round because it provides access to essentials she otherwise couldn’t afford, such as the small, thoughtful things that make a house feel warm and lived-in. Overcome with emotion, the devoted mother was moved to tears by the simple joy of choosing what her family needed most.

Allesia’s experience reflects the reality of many households in communities where employment opportunities are limited and the cost of living places increasing pressure on families. While a donated household item may seem small to one person, it can make a meaningful difference to another.

“There are very few opportunities in Elands Bay, so when something like this comes along, it is a big opportunity for our community,” said the Stanton Programmes Manager in Elands Bay.

“CAB gives families the chance to get things they need for their homes, things they might otherwise go without. It means a lot to see people being given that opportunity.”

The initiative was made possible through the generosity of Southern Sun Hotels and Radisson RED, whose household goods donations helped stock the pop-up shop, as well as EWB, which sent volunteers to support the day. Dedicated local volunteers Mariette and Vicky also played an important role in supporting 9Miles Project’s work in Elands Bay.

Photo Credit: Supplied by Haley Willenberg (9Miles Project)

Members of the public who donated and believed in the vision further strengthened the initiative. When families arrived, they were welcomed into a shop where they could browse and select items according to their household needs.

CAB is built on a simple belief: everyone deserves to feel at home, regardless of their financial circumstances. By giving pre-loved items a second life, the initiative connects people who have something to give with families who can benefit from it, while protecting the dignity of those receiving support.

For 9Miles Project, this work forms part of a wider commitment to walking alongside coastal communities through holistic support, mentorship, education and opportunities for growth. CAB offers a tangible expression of that commitment, meeting an immediate need while reminding families that their community has not forgotten them.

The organisation extends its sincere thanks to its sponsors and every member of the public who contributed to making the day possible. Their generosity helped 40 families take home more than essential goods; it helped bring comfort to their living spaces and reminded them that care can be found in the actions of others.