A meisie gave up her matric ball to assist a local soup kitchen instead.
After 13 years of selflessly giving to the community, aunty Charlene Petersen of the Valhalla Park Community Feeding Angels received a heartwarming surprise from Jade le Roux who pledged her matric dance money to her.
This comes after the Daily Voice shared Charlene’s appeal for help last week.
Jade, 19, who wrote her last exam at Elsies River High on Wednesday, gave up her glamorous night organised by her parents, to instead host Charlene and about 150 residents at her home that night.
Jade says: “As a young girl, I’ve seen people queueing to get food, sad and hungry, and aunty Charlene would give as much as she can.
“I told some neighbours about my idea and they liked it, so we agreed that my family would prepare the meals and open our home to everyone while the community would put together some food donations to be handed over to aunty Charlene. We then invited her and asked her to do an opening speech.”
Little did Charlene know the night was all about her.
Jade says: “I gave the final speech and handed the box of blessings to aunty Charlene. Her eyes sparkled, like tears were going to fall. She was shaking and speechless.
“She then stated that this was her first token of appreciation in 13 years of hard work.
“It was so amazing, I knew from that moment my idea was a success.”
And although Jade told Charlene the groceries were for her, and not the community, the grateful woman vowed to share it with the needy anyway.