Please find in good order our February 2025 Trip report and what we are up to currently. The February round trip on the UD 90 truck was done by Johan & Frans Schultz on the truck while Caroline and Angela were on the Bakkie for Bulawayo and surround deliveries. Thank you to the team on the ground who make sure the “Magic” gets packed and delivered. From my side in the office our Financial year end ended on the 28th February and I have been busy with the final prep for the Accountant. We also let all our stock run down to basically nothing over the last while to make sure we had used everything. Despite the crazy price increases of late and the normal slowdown in donations for the last 3 months I have placed several large orders which are pending payment and delivery so that it can be ready to be packed for the April trip. I am as usual looking for the Beacon Marshmallow eggs and although there is a possibility of it being a bit late our Oldies will definitely be getting them on the upcoming April Trip circumstances allowing. This is one of the huge highlights for our Golen Oldies of the Easter trip.
We have recently celebrated our 23rd year of existence. Hard to believe that just over 23 years ago in January 2002 Hannes Botha received an appeal for help from a pensioner in Bulawayo Zimbabwe. The pensioner had no funds and no food . Hannes bought enough food to fill his Ford Meteor car, took a week’s leave and drove the 1000 kilometres to Bulawayo and delivered food to the pensioner. A few months later he went up to Zimbabwe and supplied the pensioner with food. He was asked to supply a pensioner with food at the Huisvergesig Old Age home in Gweru. This he did and when he noticed how the other pensioners in the home were staring at him and the box of food, he realised that they also needed food. It took Hannes another 8 months to buy enough food to supply 36 pensioners with a food hamper at this home. The pensioners did not know that they would be receiving food and some of them were so overwhelmed that they cried. This is when Hannes realised that there was a crisis facing the pensioners in Zimbabwe. Their pensions were fast becoming worthless as inflation was out of control. Hannes then started the Zimbabwe Pensioner Supporter Fund as he could no longer carry the cost on his own. December 2003 Hannes bought a 4 ton Toyota Dyna truck as he was supplying more than 100 pensioners with food. As donations were received the ZPSF expanded its relief efforts until it was supplying more than 400 pensioners with food, clothing and basic medicine every 3 months. Talk about an adventure and we are still going.
This is not an easy undertaking by any means and trust me we take all the stress and losses very personally. Once again, our Golden Oldies in Zimbabwe tenacity is being tested to the max, but we are still here, and we shall go no matter what in whichever way we can. For those who have been supporting us for a long time, you have read the regular trip reports, read all about the challenges, trials and loses we have had. There are currently reports of shops being empty or just the stock no matter how basic being priced beyond the average Joe’s means. There our so many stories / rumours going around at the moment about the extremely volatile situation brewing in Zimbabwe now one is not sure what to believe. All we know is that this makes life so much harder and more uncertain for our Golden Oldies. However, with everyone’s support out there and your continued prayers we are going to keep doing what we do no matter what.
Also don’t forget if you would like to join us on a trip or be a driver on one of the vehicles to let Johan know johan@zpsf.co.za or call 0824979328.
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. They will be issued once our Financial Year End has been processed, so from about mid-April 2025. The following branches are registered sub branches of the ZPSF-SA, ZPSF-UK supporters can be issued with a Gift Aid Certificate via Anne Tourle and the USA account is a Registered 501(c)3 organization and as such Tax-deductible receipts available for USA-ZPSF donors via Caron Berryhill.
Please Note for a Tax Certificate I require the following:
NAME OF DONOR
TAX NUMBER
TRADING NAME
BUSINESS REG NUMBER
PHYSICAL ADDRESS
POSTAL ADDRESS
EMAIL ADDRESS
CONTACT NUMBER
NATURE OF PERSON
ID NUMBER
COUNTRY OF ISSUE
NATURE OF DONATION
