PROJECT: Old age halfway house
15 May 2021
A Touch from Heaven (NPC 2019/159545/08) is a place of safety for the needy, homeless, elderly and rehabilitated addicts in Pretoria West, started and run by Alice and Willem Lubbe. It is a registered NON-PROFIT COMPANY that provides the following FREE services.
- Support programmes and pastoral psychological counselling
- Support & assistance to the families and friends of addicts
- Outreach programmes to the elderly in old age homes
- Food and clothing for the needy
- Support for the disabled
A Touch from Heaven is also a HALFWAY HOUSE that provides accommodation, food and clothing to those who do not receive SASSA (Government) grants or who earn a very low income. They currently house 45 people (aged between 50 and 78) on three different properties owned by Alice & Willem. These are all adjacent to each other. Two of the houses have been sub-divided inside with dry walling, to accommodate some of the residents that may need more care. Those that are more self-sufficient are living in wooden Wendy houses that have been erected on the properties.
On the 15th of May 2021, the Adventures for Love team hosted a Fun Day for the residents. We were joined by some volunteers and six teenage girls from Guild Cottage in Parktown.
We began our day with setting up a store with donated clothing where the residents could ‘shop’ for themselves. Each could choose warm winter clothing as well as shoes, handbags, accessories, even a little bit of make-up for the ladies.
Two young girls, from St Theresa School, baked treats and cakes which was served with tea and coffee and was a big hit with all the residents. A foot and hand massage station were available throughout the day to add to the spoils.
The day was made up of activities such as bingo, chair movement, games, art, flower arranging and woodwork for the men. Live entertainment was provided by Jaco Dennis, one of the teachers at School of Achievement in Germiston, those that were able could bop and jive along. Watching the joy and excitement of these folk was so heart-warming and made the day a huge success.
Each resident received a “care pack” filled to the brim with toiletries, slippers and some other much needed necessities.
Currently “A Touch from Heaven” is full to capacity, but Alice has created space for additional wooden Wendy houses to be erected on the one property. There is currently a waiting list of people trying to get into “A Touch from Heaven”. Alice is hoping to house these people, some coming off the streets, before the cold and harsh South African winter sets in.
Adventures for Love have, during these very difficult and trying times, been helping this organization with food, clothing, beds and linen. We have made the decision to assist in raising funds to have four additional Wendy houses bought and erected. This will enable Alice to provide a safe and loving environment for more people in need.
Awareness was created, via AFL’s social media platforms, and we managed to raise enough money to have one Wendy house erected with another two donated. One was donated by iFacts and the other by a group of ladies from Barcelona, Spain “The Hot Chilly Chiccas”. These three homes are already occupied.
We also launched an “Adopt an Elderly” campaign. 15 Residents have been “adopted” by members of the public. They will either keep in touch with one or two of the elderly as pen pals or will provide ongoing support by way of providing basic provisions, with possible visits. These 15 individuals were selected based on the time they have been at the home as well as their involvement in the community.
Alice and Willem have recently done major alterations to their own home, on the property, and have since opened a frail care section with qualified care available to the community and the residents.
All that were involved were extremely taken with the appreciation and gratitude that was conveyed by the residents after the event. This makes our work so humbling, but it cannot be done without the help, support and continuous assistance that we receive from our sponsors and donors.
Thanks for making it possible for us to GIVE A LITTLE AND CHANGE A LIFE!
