Durban Metro Branch sent its able volunteers to the Virginia Air Show in July where they shared a tent with other paramedical staff.  Fortunately there were no injuries during the event, but the volunteers were constantly on the lookout for anyone needing assistance.
 
Fire in Alpine Road informal settlement in Durban affected 1000 people. 
The Red Cross provided relief in the form of food and blankets. 

Two weeks later the provincial office, in collaboration with The Wheel shopping Centre, treated 15 children of the settlement to an afternoon of fun – a meal, a movie and games at the centre.
 
Food distribution at an orphanage, crèches and schools in July and August
 
St Monica’s children’s Home:  Volunteers, Terone Mannheim and Babe Nagooroo, distributed doughnuts to the children who are cared for by this NGO. 

Among the 90 children there are babies, pre‑schoolers, as well as teenagers who are writing matric.  Many were abandoned or come from homes where they were abused.  St Monica relies solely on donations from the public and corporates.
 
ExcelNursery schooland Pre-primary:  Fifteen loaves of bread and fifteen punnets of doughnuts were donated to this school, in Austerville Drive, Wentworth, which caters for a large number of children who come from underprivileged homes. 

Many of the mothers who don’t work contribute a small amount of money each day towards food for these children. 
 
Jesus Celebration Centre, a crèche based in bluff Road which caters for the very poor. 

Bread and doughnuts were distributed amongst these children, for whom breakfast is the only meal they receive.
 
Twenty loaves of bread donated by Blue Ribbonwere distributed to 2 creches in Wentworth.

Article by Estelle Neethling,
the South African Red Cross