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 – 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.
On 26 September, Keep Caring painted it forward by hosting a step-by-step taught painting class while enjoying a few glasses of wine. The evening brought in R11 000 profit which is enough to purchase 22 chemotherapy care packs.
Keep Caring was founded with the main aim of changing lives. The Keep Caring motto is “Make your drop in the ocean” – to symbolise no matter how small your donation or effort, together they all make a big difference.
The fun-filled evening hosted 44 locals who made their drop in the ocean and helped us reach our target of raising R10 000, which were raised from ticket sales as well as by auction. Auction items were donated by Jenni Gault International, Skydiving Jeffreys Bay, Awehness, Stampede and Shirley Raymond.
This evening would not have been possible without the Welsh Financial group, who sponsored all of their easels, canvas’ and paintbrushes for the evening. Other vital role players on the evening included; Gareth Burley (MC), Nicci Swartz (Artist), Megan Smith (Musician) and Marshy Photography.
In previous drives Keep Caring has collected over 5000 articles of clothing, baked 1000 cupcakes to raise funds for Domestic Animal Care, donated anatomically correct dolls and school readers to SOS Children’s home, facilitated a R17 000 donation from Volpes to MES and donated crockery to MES.
Over the festive season, they host a ‘Pay it forward’ campaign which encourages members of the Nelson Mandela Bay community to either volunteer or donate to charity.