Caring groups give food, water

LOCAL religious and humanitarian organisations are reaching out to communities in need of food and water.

Hari Patel, of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha – a spiritual, volunteer-driven organisation near Cato Crest dedicated to improving society through individual growth by fostering the Hindu ideals of faith, unity, and selfless service – has been distributing hampers and food to various communities around Durban.

“We have been supplying hampers and tons of food like rice, pasta and moongh dhal for distribution in different communities,” said Patel.

He said next Friday they would be at a school in Newlands that was badly affected by the recent floods, where they would be distributing hampers.

Patel said they have been also involved in the “water project”, working with different communities to distribute water to people who have not had water in their taps due to damaged infrastructure caused by the floods in April.

“We are working with a community member who has drilled boreholes in Tongaat and Verulam to try to help supply water. Each borehole project costs over R100 000. The boreholes are in central points at temples and schools. We also supplied Jojo tanks for certain areas,” said Patel.

He said they relied on donations. Another organisation meeting the humanitarian needs of people is the Mohanji Foundation, which plans to develop a soup kitchen, clinic and boreholes in Nonoti on the KwazuluNatal North Coast.

To mark the launch of the community project, a life-size statue of the mystic saint Shirdi Sai Baba will be consecrated at the site where the Mohanji Centre of Benevolence is to be built.

The event on Thursday will be attended by Shri Mohanji, a world-renowned humanitarian, and will be officiated by Shri Sulakhe Maharaj, the Chief Priest of Shirdi Sai Mahasamadhi Temple in India.

Sulosh Pillay, a senior devotee of the Mohanji Foundation, said having a statue of Shirdi Sai Baba at the proposed Mohanji Centre of Benevolence would create “waves of divine energy and positivity” which would be beneficial to the country and the African continent.

“People from all walks of life are welcome to attend the consecration event.

“Shri Mohanji is a humanitarian whose life purpose is to unite the world with the highest values of love, kindness, compassion and selflessness,” said Pillay.

The Mohanji Centre of Benevolence at Nonoti will have a food/soup kitchen, skills training centre, shelter for the abused, frail care facility, meditation hall and retreat centre.