The Cape petrolkoppe have done it again, by coming together with a community organisation to arrange a charity day.
At this unusual time in our history, outreach initiatives are all that more essential, as it is the people at the lower end of the income scale who suffer the most, when it comes to getting a decent meal and clothing.
Wynberg homeless people were the recipients in this time of much-needed charity outreach, and the car crews stieked uit in force to not only make the day happen, but to bring a kwaai collection of cabbies to the zone for the day.
Bobby Nitro spoke to Vincent of the Cape Crews Movement (CCM), known for aiding these types of events. CCM, in conjunction with The BMW Owner’s Club and the Wynberg Concerned Citizens (WCC), organised the day.
Vincent says: “Through our movement, we got other organisations involved and helped organise a feeding scheme and charity day for the Wynberg area on Saturday.
“We all teamed up, and with the understanding that there are people out there with nothing, and times are hard nowadays, we arranged food on a large scale as well as clothing donations to hand out on the day.”
They set up opposite the Wittebome Civic, and fed and clothed about 800 people on the day.
Bobby also spoke to ‘Sniper’ of WCC, a neighbourhood watch group that helps residents with everything from power and water problems, to safety and security.
Sniper says: “We involve the community, especially the homeless people, who often give us tips if there are break-ins and the like. Our saying is a homeless person is not a lost person.”
Sniper says that many homeless people were taken to the government camp at Strandfontein to wait out the lockdown, but now that the restrictions are easing, people are returning. But about three times as many homeless people have returned to the Wynberg area.
This obviously increases the need for the ongoing feeding schemes the WCC organises.
Car crews pitched in to help collect food and clothing and to hand it out.
Alongside the CCM, The BMW Owner’s Society (TBO), the Republic of 92ers, German Freaks, Crazy Custom Toyboyz, Caddy Nation and CPT Spinners also participated.
Raiyan Berry, the chairman of TBO, says: “When I woke up Sunday morning I felt so much better knowing we had fed almost a 1000 people. Something I’ve always noticed after car events are the homeless people who will come, help us clean up.”
Rashaad Akbar of German Freaks says: “The highlight of the day for me, well it’s hard to explain the feeling you get when you can help someone less fortunate, to put food in their stomach and clothes on their back.
“This is what car clubs are all about, in fact I think we do more than the government in this regard.”
Bobby asked him what he was looking forward to as the car scene slowly reignites again.
Rashaad says: “I’m looking forward to a lekker meet and greet, and to relax a bit. We have been very busy with charity initiatives through lockdown. It will also be lekker to see the new clubs that have arrived on the scene.”
Vincent extends his thanks to the sponsors. Sponsors were Mike’s Place, Auto Zone Mitchells Plain, Shoprite/ Checkers, PnP Family Store, Winners Supermarket, Quality Graphix, MA Tyres and Maliek’s Gearbox and Diff Repairs, who all helped donate towards the event.