The Union of Jewish Women (UJW) Port Elizabeth has continued its efforts to enrich the lives of their local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A group of committed women from the UJW has assisted various other organisations to help the less fortunate with food, clothing and other essential supplies. South Africa’s strict lockdown was vital for public health and safety but left millions of South Africans without income and the ability to access essential items.
In the Port Elizabeth community, the UJW continued to donate food and care parcels to organisations such as the Nkosinathi Foundation for the Blind and Partially sighted people. During the lockdown period, the foundation was not able to continue with its educational projects but continued to support the vulnerable with essentials. The UJW usually provides food every month to the Foundation and with donations from local businesses, managed to supply food parcels to the Foundation during the lockdown.
“Our motivation for the work that we do is to help people in the broader communities, who are less fortunate than us,” said Elaine Racussen, Chairperson of the Union of Jewish Women, Port Elizabeth.
“In this time of COVID-19, we are well aware of people who have lost their jobs, earn no money and are barely able to exist. We have been blessed to be able to assist with food, clothing, educational needs. Sanitizers and masks are essential, but if you don’t have money, it becomes unimportant.”
During June, the UJW also donated food parcels for the Uviwe Child and Youth Services and cloth masks to Get Giving. Get Giving is a soup kitchen that feeds between 600 and 800 people a day. Very often, this is the only meal they have a day.
On 21 May, the UJW uploaded this YouTube video calling for the support of PE businesses and individuals. Highlighting the plight of hundreds of locals in the rural areas having to wait in 4km long queues for food, they released this urgent appeal for funding for food.
“Local businesses assist us with money, which enables us to do what we can, to many charities,” added Racussen.
The organisation also supports the Healing Hands Community Projects, Youth Potential SA with books and snacks, Get Giving Foundation with food and clothing, Baby Lovers Blessings with clothing, in addition to the others mentioned above.
The UJW is a non-governmental,non-profit organization. “We are a non-political organization, but based on social justice,” said Racussen.
The UJW PE is one of the UJW branches in South Africa, with others in Cape Town, Durban, East London, Johannesburg and Pretoria. The UJW was established in 1931 to serve both the Jewish and broader communities. They partner with diverse and like-minded organisations and hope to provide a platform for interaction and understanding.
Visit the Union of Jewish Women website and the UJW PE Facebook page for details on how you can support.