For the pensioners of Berea Gardens on the Sunshine Coast, volunteers and a winter bazaar helped warm the winter blues in more ways than one, and not just because a gazebo caught fire!
East London, South Africa (12 July 2024) — There’s nothing to dull those winter blues like a little winter festivity. For the pensioners of Berea Gardens on the Sunshine Coast, a winter bazaar warmed hearts (and a gazebo) thanks to volunteers and community support.
“These individuals, often overlooked, are the pillars of our society, embodying strength, wisdom, and resilience in the face of financial hardship, Many struggle to make ends meet, relying on the support of their families to bridge the gap between their government pension and the rising cost of living. Just think about what you spent the last time you visited the supermarket or pharmacy?” says manager Claire Neithercut.
To put things into further context, the SASSA pension they receive is a tiny amount of just R2,200 per month.
So, events like the recent winter bazaar are something of a very special occasion. Not least because of the ‘market’, food and music the pensioners get to enjoy but also because it’s an essential reminder that they are still a respected part of their community, that they are not forgotten, that helpers are everywhere.
In fact, Berea Gardens was founded by a special helper, Richard Mogg, a community pharmacist who made it his life’s mission to improve the quality of life of needy pensioners in the Buffalo City region after seeing the struggles they endured when he was out delivering medication. What tugged on his heart soon became a call to action—to create a place where the elderly could live and access their necessities affordably (and in cases like the winter bazaar, joyfully!).
The winter bazaar was said to be a great hit and even had a few sparks flying after the boerie roll gazebo caught fire (the result of a faulty gas burner, but it was swiftly put out by welfare officer Anicia Verster!).
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