Dear Supporters,

Today is our birthday…………………Hope House is 20 years old!

In October 2000 Hope House was registered as a charitable Trust, thereafter as a non-profit organization and subsequently as a Public Benefit Organization. In December 2001 we bought 32 Peak Drive, Pinelands, Cape Town. We undertook extensive alterations and additions to the property and thereafter furnished and equipped the house transforming it into a lovely home. On the 15th July 2002 our first residents, all three females, moved into Hope House. 

Becky, Renee and Lindsay still reside in Hope House as well as a further five residents (the maximum allowed by law) and we have a waiting list. Our residents are happy, appreciate and enjoy what the house offers and the care they receive. They have become good friends and are supportive of each other. Their days are filled with varied activities, both creative and physical and Sue (our skills therapist) plans wonderful days filled with both mental, musical and creative activities. As important are Ali and Linda (our aerobics instructors) who keep the residents on their toes and work on maintaining their level of fitness. The residents particularly enjoy the spinning sessions on the bikes and water aerobics in summer.   

We are extremely fortunate to have loyal and supportive staff. Sherezaan, our house mother is a gem. Not only is she kind and caring to the residents but she possesses the gift of creating the most delicious meals and can be heard singing wherever she is in the house. Charmaine and Belinda assist her in the house and Leticia and Charmaine take turns in doing weekend duties. Bonita, our manager keeps Hope House running in many ways, supporting the staff and residents as well as reporting to the Department of Health. Stanley, who has been with us since the onset of Hope House is a magician in the garden and has created and maintained a lovely and peaceful garden. We are grateful to Lesley who works with me in the garden on Wednesdays, weeding, pruning and planning the next season's planting.

As we celebrate our birthday I am mindful of all those who have helped us reach 20 years of Hope House. I take the opportunity of thanking my current Trustees who support me in every possible way, remembering also those Trustees who were with me at the onset of Hope House. I also thank Sherry, our bookkeeper for her impeccable eye on our finances, HVM Accountants for doing our auditing, the Woolies team who faithfully collects the crates of food for us on Wednesdays and Saturdays and Woolworths Meadowridge for providing us with the food. Tom is amazing at keeping Hope House well maintained and Lizette, our famous book sale lady needs a big mention having opened up her home for the annual book sales since the onset of Hope House.  New to our team is Sym, the wiz on websites and will be sending out this newsletter. Thanks to Andre and his team from Ripple Data for setting up the website and assisting Sym. The Department of Health needs a big mention for visiting us regularly as well as supporting us financially and advising on good management. They were particularly supportive during the Covid epidemic.

AND then there are all our supporters and donors without whom we wouldn’t have survived the last two years during Covid when we couldn’t fundraise. Thank you, thank you for your ongoing support. We are particularly grateful to the MacFarlane Family Foundation whose generous donation assisted us in buying Solar panels and almost being off the grid during this time of rolling blackouts.

As we look ahead, we are planning for our Annual Open Day which will be held on Saturday the 19th of November. Please diarise the date!!

During Covid, we were unable to have the Hope House Open Day so we look forward to a very special Open Day with many of our supporters visiting us. How wonderful to be back to normality!

Should you wish to make a birthday donation we would be most grateful. As you know we are a registered NPO and Section18a PBO.

Our banking details are:

Hope House Trust,

FNB Rondebosch, code 201509

Account 62021701009 

As the donate button isn’t yet up and running an EFT would be appreciated.

With warm regards, 

Jess

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Trustees: Alison Berrange, Jane Durham, Grant Mackintosh,

 Jess Mackintosh (chairperson) Paul Rode, Peter Smith, Elizabeth Solomon.