| Southern Cross Chapter has initiated a collection box which is passed around at their breakfast meeting. This box also acts as the inevitable “fines due” as a result of any misdemeanors practiced by individual members. Different needy organizations are chosen by the members to receive the benefits.
Here is a little story on the latest recipient which received R515,48 on 10th December 2003. Sandy Hotz of Southern Cross Chapter, was thrilled to hear that the R500.00 goal was exceeded and she hosted a Christmas party for the children. She has, for the past 4 years, had Xmas parties at the Tenterden in Wynberg.
The children are placed there when they are removed from their families by an Order of the Court. Some are quite introverted and so activities have to be geared to an age group of between 4 to16 – not so easy!
This year, the date was given with the short notice of a mere week, so the financial help given by the Southern Cross Group of BNI was invaluable.
Sandy reports – We had a Xmas tree with crackers, food at each place plus a bag of goodies to eat later, a big cake, ice-creams etc. One or two helpers decorated the dining-room with balloons and streamers, whilst a friend showed them how to make necklaces and ankle straps using beads. As each item was completed, the children adorned themselves with their own work! A great success.
We played races and games and had a two man band playing the sax and keyboard. The party ended with a gift of a T-shirt to each child. It was wonderful to watch their smiles of appreciation as they all spontaneously slipped into their new clothes and posed for photographs.
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