NVT Covid-19 Highlights 2020
Dear NVRA and NVT members and supporters
We refer to our very recent email notifying you that the NVRA and NVT were together investigating ways in which we could identify opportunities for members and supporters to assist in helping our local communities in Covie and Kurland in his time of crisis and would like to update you as follows:
Masks4all – update
Further to our recent request for support for Masks4all, approximately 1,500 masks have been made to-date and we expect 2,500 masks will have been distributed to Covie and Kurland residents by this weekend. So far, all Covie residents have been supplied with masks together with Kurland firefighters and Kurland clinic staff and their families, masks are now being distributed within Kurland by designated blocks – a great effort made possible by a dedicated group of sewing ladies and to the many contributions received from supporters – on behalf of the CFMU thanks to you all.
In addition, an urgent supply of masks was made available at short notice for the staff of Crags Primary School who will be cooking and distributing food to the school children for each day of the lockdown, from Wed 8th April. The school have arranged printed handouts and the use of a loud-hailer on a vehicle to advise children of the arrangements for school-feeding during the lockdown. The food for the school feeding scheme is supplied by the Government and supplemented by local charity organisations.
Kurland/Crags/Covie food support programme
Turning now to the ongoing impact of the lockdown and the probability of its extension, our attention is now focussed on the vulnerable members of our communities who are too ill to leave home and on casual workers with no current source of income and who are now feeling the impact of almost 2 weeks without work and with no end to this insight.
Various meetings have been held between our Ward Councillor Jessica Kamkam, Plett Rotary and concerned member of the local community, and after noting the care and concern shown towards those who will be most affected by the lockdown and uncertain immediate future of those most in need in our community, the following has been established:
Jessica Kamkam is developing a database of vulnerable Kurland and Covie residents in order that they can formally apply for assistance at this difficult time. With the ID numbers on these forms she can find out from SASSA (The South African Social Security Agency) who is receiving a grant; (these people will have received their grant last week and would be ineligible for donor support), she will then establish a list of those who are really desperate, i.e. not having either a SASSA grant, UIF or an employer – many do not get paid if they don’t work of course including the casual workers.
Ms Kamkam has established a committee of volunteers to investigate the needs of vulnerable people. These needs could include, for instance, medical supplies, home visits, food and from time to time, prepaid electricity. They will decide very carefully, where the donations go.
This support team will focus on the basic daily needs of the poorest of the poor; fruit and vegetables, protein, maize meal, flour etc. The fruit and veg will be sourced by Rik Bos at Gamtoos at wholesale prices from the farms from which he gets his produce. Pastor Allan Jubber from Born Free Ministries will negotiate with the local supermarkets for the ‘dry’ food. Prices are already sky rocketing (for example the price of carrots at the PE market has already doubled in the last week). This initiative has already started and the team has been packing food parcels for the last week with the small funding they have received so far. This group has been given the use of Kurland Club as a packing and distribution centre.
More importantly, the Rotary Club of Plettenberg Bay has agreed that the Crags/Kurland/Covie Covid Support Group can utilise Plett Rotary’s bank account and that Plett Rotary will audit and then pay the bills of Gamtoos Veg and Pastor Allan and any other bills received in support of this initiative. The fund has been established with an initial donation of R8000 from a donor in the Netherlands.
Food parcels will be made-up worth R400 each which will feed a family for two weeks. Another R200 donation will contribute towards medical supplies, for instance for adult nappies for elderly and disabled people, ladies sanitary supplies, hand sanitizer and soap.
Please note at this stage this fund is specifically for The Kurland/Crags/Covie communities. We know the people and the role players and can ensure that the money is managed properly and the food parcels and other necessities are distributed fairly.
Our recommendation to you is that this is an initiative that is most worthy of your support and very relevant to all in Natures Valley who enjoy the support of the Kurland and Crags community whether we are on holiday or in our everyday lives.
If you would like to contribute to the Kurland/Crags/Covie Covid-19 Community Support fund, the bank account details are as follows :
Plett Rotary Spec. Funds
Standard Bank Branch No. 050714
Acc. No. 282020136
Reference: Kurland donation
Proof of payment: Ate Bos SMS: 062 5568743 (+27)
Bitou Medical Response Team and the PlettAid Foundation
This initiative is focussed on the provision of medical supplies and equipment and the establishment of quarantine facilities in Bitou. This initiative is being managed by Dr. Nicky Whiteman supported by Lady Conyngham (A Rotary member) who will be coordinating the setting up of quarantine facilities in all the communities when the time arises. This team has earmarked potential facilities in the Crags and is awaiting approval from the department of health. They will start with one quarantine facility in Plett and then open more peripheral ones when and if the need arises. The fund is to provide the healthcare workers with appropriate PPE, to equip the quarantine facilities and to supply the quarantine facilities with supplies. The medical facility will most likely be in one central place, and this will only be activated once referral pathways to Knysna are saturated.
Funding for this initiative is being safely managed from the Hospice Plett account, and they have a well-organised and established team.
If you would like to contribute to this initiative the bank account details are as follows :
A bank account has been set up for these donations and the usage of all funds received will be recorded and available for public inspection. Any funds not used directly in the management of this crisis will either be refunded to donors or if consent is given, donated to a worthy cause.
This bank account was made available for use by the Bitou Covid-19 Response Team, by Hospice Plett, who will act as administrators for the receipt and disbursement of donated funds. Please access the protocol for disbursement and a notice from Hospice Plett regarding the use of their bank account here and a letter from the Hospice Plett Chairman here.
Bank account details:
The PlettAid Foundation
Bank: FNB
Account Number: 62063277472
Branch code: 210514
SWIFT Code: FIRNZAJJ
Beneficiary reference: Covid19 your surname
You can access the donation form here
Financial contributions notwithstanding donations of any of the following would be most appreciated:
- Medical equipment: Oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, unused oxygen tubing, nebulisers, masks and other personal protective equipment,
- Plastic Chairs,
- Tents and Gazebos to set up outside quarantine facilities.
We would also appreciate the temporary use of any buildings that can be used as potential quarantine venues. These facilities should preferably have adequate water supply, rooms to quarantine patients and, ideally, beds. You can access the equipment or venue donations form here.
In addition to the above, a fund has been created to provide transport services to the Covie Community to enable them to visit doctors or if an emergency arises.
Your donation, large or small will be greatly appreciated by our local community. Our thanks to all those kind people who are putting in so much time and effort in many ways: sewing masks, setting up quarantine facilities, collecting warm blankets and linen and beds and making us so proud of our community and grateful to be living here, by preparing as best they can for the unknown future which lies ahead. There are also many unsung heroes who have, for years, been running soup kitchens and feeding schemes who we continue to rely on and who we greatly appreciate.
We will continue to keep you updated as lockdown progresses.
Kind regards,
Dave Owen and Chris van MelleKamp
Chairpersons of the NVRA and NVT
Contact details :
NVT: Mark; Cell 0845498498 or mark@naturesvalleytrust.co.za
NVRA: Dave on 0834442726 or dave@468nv.co.za
Disclaimer: The NVRA or NVT are not officially endorsing the initiatives listed. Please conduct your own due diligence and do not rely on that of the NVRA and NVT
We appreciate your support in helping the community stay safe during these unnerving times.
Kind regards,
The NVT Team
ContactBank Details: Account name: Nature’s Valley Trust; Standard Bank Account # 001913859; Branch Code 004205. All donations are tax-deductible! Please use the name and erf number as a reference. Contact: 388 Lagoon Drive, Nature’s Valley, PO Box 230, The Crags, 6602 TRUSTEES: Chris van Melle Kamp (Chairman) PROGRAMME DIRECTOR: Dr Mark Brown CONSERVATION EDUCATOR: Kirwan Strydom CONSERVATION ECOLOGIST: Brittany Arendse CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER MANAGER: Kellyn Whitehead MARINE ECOLOGIST: Dr. Gwen Penry RESEARCH TECHNICIAN: Caitlin Judge RESEARCH TECHNICIAN: Chanel Hauvette WWF-SA CONSERVATION INTERN: Lauren Moriarty |