Our third trip for 2021 was completed in record time due to all the uncertainty that was happening in Zimbabwe with new lock down limitations that were due to come in. A HUGE thank you to Dave Austen and Johan Schultz who were our drivers and delivery angels for this trip. I am sure everyone will enjoy the catch up with their trip reports. We have unfortunately and heartbreakingly had a lot of our Golden Oldies passing in the last few weeks, most of our Golden Oldies have been a recipient for years and as such are basically like family to the team. We have also just learned that Dr Legg who does an amazing job at looking after our Golden Oldies is also currently down and needing assistance.
A quick update on Hannes our Chief who started this life saving Fund in 2002. He has to date received 6 rounds of Chemo, his 7th that was scheduled for this past Monday-Wednesday was cancelled due to a low white blood cell count. His treatment was changed at his 6th session of chemo so we are not sure if this has anything to do with it but he will be back for his next session in just over a weeks time. As we all know there are good days and bad days, ups and downs but he is still in good spirits and very positive. We would like to thank everyone for the well wishes and prayers received so far. He is a firm believer that this will not get him down and he is going to carry on living as normally as possible!! And yes he is still keeping Johan and myself on our toes ??.
Our new general PayPal account Link to help a Golden Oldie 2021 (Non-USA) – https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=TKF5JCEFZZQTQ
Our fourth trip for 2021 is due to commence within the next 2 weeks, this will be the 5th box being delivered this year. This trips planning has been a bit upside down with all the Covid-19 lockdown issues between SA and Zimbabwe. However as it always goes we make a plan and the trip happens no matter what. Due to the current condition of the roads we are also needing to replace 3 tyres on the UD 90 urgently.
This trip we will be taking up some more
750ml spray bottles
Hand sanitiser
25lt bottles of MaxiSan,
70% hand gel
Plastic medical masks
Plastic disposable aprons
Digital thermometers
Industrial Ultrasonic Nebulizers
Medical gloves
Disposable face masks
O2 Concentrators
These are distributed as per requests from the homes.
As one can imagine the increase in our expenses due to the PPE’s has given our budget one heck of a knock. But hopefully all of these items will help to keep all our Golden Oldies Safe during these incredibly scary times. But come hell or high water we will make it work. The individual and kitchen food boxes will once again be loaded to the max.
SOME WORDS OF THANKS FROM VARIOUS HOMES
Dear Linda
Thank you on behalf of EHT for another fantastic delivery of goodie boxes. We are especially grateful for the groceries for Strickland Lodge and the medication, PPE and vitamins are lifesavers!!
Bless you all at ZPSF for all that you do on our behalf and a huge thank you to your sponsors for their continued support.
Kind regards
Lindy Botha
Administrator
Eastern Highlands Trust
PO Box 530
MUTARE
Telephone: +263 20 65230 / 64577
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Morning Linda
Hope you are all well. Just to let you know of some changes in the Lynbrook Management Committee structure.
I have been associated with Lynbrook since 2003 and have served four terms as Chairlady in this time. However the present committee are all elderly now and it is the time for a younger management to take Lynbrook into the future.
I still remain on the Lynbrook Committee and will continue to be committee member “in charge” of the Lynbrook grocery boxes so I will still do the residents lists updates for you as always and be the person in contact with the drivers as they head for Lynbrook!!
I remember so well when Hannes first starting coming to Lynbrook with the boxes and how your operation has grown to such amazing proportions in the ensuing years. You bring such pleasure and joy into the lives of so many people with the much needed and appreciated grocery boxes – and all the assistance of other kinds which you provide to senior citizens in Zimbabwe.
Your dedication in continuing to bring the boxes to Zimbabwe during this time of the Covid 19 virus is so appreciated – there are really no appropriate words to say thank you.
I look forward to us keeping in touch.
Love and best wishes to all
Margot
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Hello Linda
Let me start by asking after Hannes – I do hope that he is responding well to treatment. Please give him our very best regards and let him know that we think of him and pray for his wellness
Secondly, the situation in South Africa is a complete debacle and we sincerely pray for the safety of you all. If the reports coming out are only half true, the extent of the madness defies words. It make Zim look like paradise!
And now….. It gives me much pleasure to thank you and all the donors once more, for your invaluable assistance to Edith Duly. As Covid 19 has raised its ugly head in Bulawayo, we are so grateful to have the PPE supplies so that we can maintain our stringent protocols. Groceries are also always welcome as they relieve the stress on our budgets.
Sincerely
Leila
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Dear Linda and Johan (who I met with this lunchtime)
Further to my earlier email I must thank you so much again for the wonderful groceries, PPE, Meds, gift parcels and Lights received this trip.
You are so good and kind to take into account our needs.
Our sincere thanks for your wonderful support, caring and kindness to our home. We look forward to seeing you.
Our best regards to Hannes, who I hear is unwell and undergoing treatment. Our prayers are with Hannes and the family. God Bless you All.
With our best wishes,
Bev @ Barbara Burrell, The Committee, staff and residents.
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Dear Linda
Thank you for the two O2 Concentrators and the Kunaflo hypertonic saline fluid you provided for them.
Our House Doctor was delighted when we showed him these and very appreciative to have them in the Home. We have 4 residents who have asthma and breathlessness or tight chests and just when they need their personal nebuliser they are not working. A case in point was a 90 yr old lady who is nebulised twice a day and she had a bad attack the other evening and her nebulizer was broken. We used the Concentrator whilst we waited for the ambulance as she also had other underlying problems and needed hospitalisation.
She was breathing easier when the ambulance staff arrived and they did not have to see to her chest problem en route to the Outpatients as we had taken this on with the assistance of your kind donation and averted panic on her part.
To have this kind of assistance on hand is a saving grace and we thank you most sincerely for your help and foresight. It is also good to know that in the event of a Covid outbreak in the Home we have the right tools with which to manage it..
Best wishes and God Bless
Bev Lander @ Barbara Burrell Home for the Adult Blind, Bulawayo.
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For more pictures of the current trip and some video clips please visit our post on our FB Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/pensupzim/
Our new general PayPal account Link to help a Golden Oldie 2021 (Non-USA) – https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=TKF5JCEFZZQTQ
The total amount of homes / organizations we are currently aiding is about 26 in total, and we cover most of Zimbabwe, concentrating on the homes that are mostly out of the way and thus don’t get much support / aid. We also aid BHN in Bulawayo and helped to set up a system similar to SOAP Gweru, Zvishavane, Masvingo, Red Cliff, Kwe Kwe and Kadoma to cater for pensioners that are not in old age homes as well. We are also supporting the CFU in aiding destitute farming pensioners. We are helping to support between 1000-1100 pensioners in Zimbabwe. We currently take up food parcels every 6 weeks or so, to do this the costs run about 350k. There are quite a few groups that try to help the pensioners although according to our knowledge we are the largest. At this stage we supply food parcels as well as basic meds, walking aids, wheel chairs.
These food hampers serve 2 purposes.
1 They supply much needed food to the pensioner.
2 The pensioner then knows that someone cares about them
We are an officially registered Non-Profit Organization and Section 21A in South Africa and are registered with SARS as a Public Benefit Organization in terms of section 18A the Income Tax Act (Which means all South African donations are issued with a Tax Certificate and can be claimed back). PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE A TAX CERTIFICATE STATING ALL YOU DONATIONS. PLEASE NOTE THEY ARE ISSUED BASED ON OUR FINANCIAL PERIOD SO THE CURRENT ONES ARE FOR MARCH 2020-FEB 2021. They will be issued once our Financial Year End has been processed, so from about mid-April 2022. UK supporters can be issued with a Gift Aid Certificate via Betti-Ann McLean and the USA account is now a Registered 501(c)3 organization and as such Tax-deductible receipts available for USA donors via Alice Short.
Thank you so much for helping us support our “Golden Oldies” during these very difficult times. Your support is invaluable to us and us at the ZPSF would never be able to sustain our regular supply of relief parcels if it were not for donations such as yours. Your continued donations are a very important life line to them reminding them that we are continuously thinking about them and still care. All of this happens because of people like you, our Donors ensure our wheels keep turning, you are all truly amazing. THANK YOU and God Bless.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Phone 013 7900934Cell 079 608 2676
Email linda@zpsf.co.za
Web www.zpsf.co.za
Section 21 Co Reg. 2007/034036/08; NPO Number 096733; Section 18A PBO No 930031642
The 3 most important pillars of our cause:
UNIQUENESS – being one of a kind and knowing that the ZPSF is driven by good will and very passionate members.
TRANSPARENCY – enforcing the rule that all members must be fully informed before taking part in this noble venture.
ACCOUNTABILITY – Having a traceable paper trail for every cent handled, and regular revues conducted.