Your unused items may help to make life more comfortable for terminally ill patients at the Sungardens Hospice in Pretoria. The hospice invites the public to ‘share the care’ by donating goods and buying items at the hospice shops to raise funds.
All funds raised through the hospice shops go towards providing quality comforting care to patients living with terminal illnesses such as cancer and HIV/AIDS. The funds are also used to support families dealing with the loss of a loved one, and to care for orphans and vulnerable children in the Mamelodi area east of Pretoria.
The hospice also provides home-based care for approximately 500 patients and has a well-equipped in-patient unit that provides short-term medical care.
Sungardens Hospice and Sungardens Mamelodi Hospice services are completely free of charge and no patient is ever turned away.
The shops are the biggest source of financial flow for the hospice; the more goods donated to the hospice, the more they sell and the more money they make to continue providing quality service to those in need.
What it offers
If you can’t find what you’re looking for in any other shop, the Sungardens Hospice shops will most probably have it.
Book lovers can lose themselves in the bookshop among the huge variety of quality second-hand books and magazines at very reasonable prices. Shoppers can also browse around the arts and crafts shop for items such as art, hats, paintings, wool, bags, musical instruments and much more, while the hospice ‘boutique’ sells good-quality, second-hand clothing, including specials for as little as R5 an item.
If you’re looking for old records, CDs, antiques, toys, furniture, exercise equipment, soccer balls and golf clubs, the famous Aladdin’s Cave is the place to visit.
At the White Elephant Store, you will find a variety of second-hand electrical goods including television sets, DVD players, video machines, cameras and computers, as well as fridges, microwave ovens, dishwashers and other kitchen appliances.
Fundraising
In 2011, half of the hospice funds was raised by the charity shops and the other half through fundraising initiatives.
The shops are run by staff members and 36 volunteers from all walks of life. Students from tertiary institutions also lend a helping hand. They love the book store where they can buy reasonably priced study books, said hospice marketing manager, Paul Kirby.
In addition to the charity shops, the hospice also has a beading project, which received foreign funding. Members of the project receive money to buy beads and make jewellery to sell.
The shops are situated on the corner of General Louis Botha and Lynnwood Roads in Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria and are open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 16:00 and on Saturdays from 8:30 to 13:00. They are closed on Sundays and public holidays.
There are hospice shops in most South African cities. So, if you live in another province and want to make a difference by donating goods, contact the hospice closest to you for more information.
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