Charity begins at home with the Kingswood

Many Kingswood Estate residents and golf members have dug deep into their pockets to help the less privileged in the George community this year.

Over the course of 2024, the Ladies’ golf team helped a number of charities raise funds. In this edition of the Kingswood BUZZard we are reporting on two special events. On 2 November, Kingswood members David and Carla Eveleigh competed in the town’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ charity event, which raised funds for the Sports Academy and George Royal Academy. The former is an NPO that has uplifted underprivileged kids through sport since 2008. In 2019, they opened the George Royal Academy – a private school offering free tuition for needy kids.

Kingswood came out in numbers to support David and Carla in their brave effort of dancing in front of hundreds of people to raise funds for this worthy cause.

On the same level of community-mindedness, if a little less glitzy, is the work done by Kingswood local Wanda Harris and friends under the Soup Angels/Sop Engele umbrella. ‘The group was initiated by Desiree Calitz on 16 June 2023 to help tackle the overwhelming challenges faced by poorer communities,’ explains Wanda.

‘Kingswood residents started getting involved in Soup Angels by contributing plastic tubs and ingredients for the soup. A team of five or six volunteer soup makers prepare nutritious and healthy soup on a regular basis. ‘Last November, Desiree joined forces with Pastor Frans Lucas and his Pacaltsdorp congregation and they now distribute delicious soup to the members of the Moeggeploeg and Moeggehuur townships.

‘When the soup is distributed, the gratitude on recipients’ faces makes it all worthwhile,’ says Wanda. There is always a need for donations of soup ingredients and containers, and for more soup makers. Volunteers can make soup once a month or even every two months to spread the load and help to ensure that soup is in constant supply.

This project would not be possible if not for the generosity of many Kingswood residents. Any donations of soup ingredients, food, clothing, blankets, money, or frozen leftovers for dogs and cats will be deeply appreciated. Call Wanda on 082 553 9157 if you would like to get involved.