News
Red Cross struggles to meet demands
Background
The Red Cross - in its efforts to addres food insecurity within the community - is facing significant challenges. A recent survey identified 23 food outlets serving 10,688 meals every month, buth there is uncertainty regarding the extent of unment needs and concern for the safety of existing operators.
Date: 11 October 2024
Caring for the carers of dementia patients
Background
In line with the campaign to make Greater Hermanus a dementia-friendly town (see The Village News of 16 August), an interactive workshop was recently held for 46 carers from as far afield as Grabouw and Caledon, as well as most of the Overstrand communities. Some were family members of dementia patients, others were representatives of various service organisations.
From the lively response to social worker Leigh Haselau's presentation, there was a strong desire for more information, as well as practical tips to make their difficult job less stressfull and more effective. Soon members of the group were interacting with one another, as well as Legh herself.Clearly, sharing experiences and problem-solving advice is a deeply-felt need and there was a request for similar worskshops in the future.
According to Dr Katie Buley, one of the organisers of the workshop, "It focused on the feelings and emotions of people living with diagnosis of dementia and emphasised the importance of person-centred care; in this case, one size does not all. The importance of not setting the patient/client up for failure was emphasised and to this end, encouraging the patient to take agency was emphasised.
"A useful video was shown depicting the flight, fright, freeze responses to stress and how when a patient is in a triggered position, it is unlikely they will respond rationally" In fact emphatic communication between carer and patient was a common theme throughout the workshop
BY: Elaine Davie - Village News 30.08.2024
Food Distribution: Community Report September 2024
Background
Back in 2020 during the COVID lockdown, we all saw the long lines of hungry people queuing for food aid. With the economy on lockdown and most people dependent on ‘no work – no pay’ sources of employment, there was a huge crisis. A crisis across the country and here in Hermanus. People were concerned. There was a humanitarian issue. Malnutrition, sickness, and starvation loomed. There was also the increased risk of unrest and disorder.
For 11 months in 2020 a number of organisations in the Overstrand pulled out all the stops to mitigate the food crisis caused by Covid-19. Amongst these were Red Cross and Food4Love, in collaboration with the Overstrand Municipality’s Disaster Relief Project. Many households, with a particular focus on children and the elderly, were fed each day from formal and informal soup kitchens across the region, and food parcels and food vouchers delivered to them.
The causes of this deeply entrenched food insecurity situation are complex. However, this also means that the strategies for tackling it can also be varied and innovative. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) uses a four pillared framework to define the causes of food insecurity.
Being Kind, accepting, finding a connection
Please Note - The article continues p3.in second paragraph - It’s a strange, strange world
published by E Davie: Village News 16 August
Please just click on the image below.
Place to be-Hub
Within food distribution Red Cross will give 2-hour First Aid training and supply items for first aid bag. . Denver Scheepers is the teacher. Photo of class of 7 attendees
Place to be-Hub in Mount Pleasant
Aqunion Company of Hermanus gave Red Cross 67 food bags for distribution to the community. Photo of the team
Red Cross says: thank you to the community for their generosity
26th JULY 2024 Village News
Mandela Day 18 July 2024
Notice has gone out to local newspapers , shops, and the community. Deliveries of food, blankets and toiletries took place today and will continue.
Home-based care an option
Home-based care is becoming increasingly popular as a way to handle patient care and that of the elderly or infirmwithout incurring the huge cost associated with long-term hospitalisation or rehabilitation in an institution
It has become evident that with the increase in basic living costs, and the decrease in finances many of our communities will not be able to afford hospital care in the future.
Village News 29/03/2024
Empowering Change: Where Your Donations Make a Meaningful Impact
Your generous donations serve as a lifeline for a range of impactful initiatives. From providing crucial training sessions and essential home-based care to efficient disaster management, we channel your support into tangible, positive outcomes. However, one of our paramount focuses of late is on welfare and feeding schemes through our extensive network.
Take a moment to glance at Figure 1 below, revealing a stark reality: the disadvantaged in our community grapple with the challenge of putting even the most basic of foods on their tables. Over the past 7 years, food prices have surged tremendously, as indicated in Table 1, rendering some of these essential items nearly unattainable for many. Your contributions play a pivotal role in funding our five food hubs and accordingly in bridging this gap, ensuring that we can continue our mission to alleviate hunger and enhance the well-being of those in need. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our community members.
Figure 1: Price of potatoes and rice since 2017
Source: Stats SA's Consumer Price Index 2017 - 2024
Table 1: Various essential food items and their respective price increases
Source: Stats SA's Consumer Price Index 2017 - 2024
Keegan Ferreira CSb(SA) - Affiliate
BCom (cum laude)
Red Cross appeals for Donors
There's more to hunger than an empty feeling, a skinny frame and a rumbling tummy.
Being hungry has ramificationsnot only for the individual but for society as a whole.
Village News 23.2.2024
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