Good deeds light up the lives of those around us in the simplest way, and a young South African is a brightening up PE with her own charity!
Port Elizabeth, South Africa – A 20-year-old with a big heart created a charity that is now in its third year. It’s making a massive difference to various organisations within Port Elizabeth!
Ronald Reagan once said, “You can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” As a recently matriculated 18-year-old, Amy Erasmus didn’t realise how much the quote by the former American president would influence her gap year.
“Initially, I was going to use this year to train for open water swimming events, but that changed after my shoulder operation in January.”
Keep Caring started three years ago when Erasmus was at a planning meeting with her dance instructors about incorporating community service into their dance studio. While sitting in the meeting, the passionate South African realised that winter was coming and there would be people in her city who would need warm clothes. She also realised that many people have clothes that they no longer wear or need.
“This led to not only my first [clothing] drive but to the start of Keep Caring.”
Her first project was a collection drive where she accumulated 256 Kgs of food, 30 blankets and 2 741 articles of clothing. That’s over 100 bags of clothes!
Erasmus’ second project was a cupcake drive. She learnt how hard it is to make 1 000 cupcakes out of a “small home kitchen” with a standard mixer. But it was definitely worth it in the end.
“I raised R4,500 profit and 23 Kgs of food. I was also fortunate enough to facilitate a donation from VOLPES to MES [Mould Empower Serve] worth R17,000.”
The passionate South African has never limited herself to one charity but instead has made herself available to a variety of causes. Before taking up a cause, she does extensive research into the organisation. At the time of writing, Erasmus is supporting MES (Mould Empower Serve), LoveStory, Save-a-Pet and the East Cape Horse Care Unit. She has assisted Hannah’s Arms, Cat Rescue-PE and in giving gifts to newborns in the past as well.
“My motto for Keep Caring is, ‘Make your drop in the ocean’. This is because the difference I make might be a drop in the ocean, but all those little drops together make a big difference.”
Erasmus’ story is proof that #JustRightDeeds are everywhere!
Good Things Guy recently teamed up with Just Property to celebrate the good deeds South Africans do daily. Every week we celebrated a good deed from university students making toys out of recycled plastic for underprivileged children to a woman dedicating time each week to helping cancer patients in need and even a group of South Africans helping an entire family after losing their house to a fire.
How to get involved:
The campaign may be over but doing #JustRightDeeds will always be a good thing!
You don’t have to post it on social media, or even tell anyone about it. Just keep doing your little bit of #JustRight wherever you are. It’s these little bits of good put together that change the world.
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