17 March 2021
15
www.thevillagenews.co.za
Be kind and support our children Liza van Coppenhagen and Asiphe Mbuku in front of the newly-opened Hermanus Child & Family Services charity shop, Be Kind. PHOTO: Hedda Mittner
H
aving hung up her Country Market hat, Liza van Coppenhagen recently donned a new one with the opening of a charity shop for Hermanus Child & Family Services (HCFS) in Victoria Square named ‘Be Kind’, right next to the Eatery and opposite Hemingways. The shop is crammed with second-hand goods, ranging from books and bric-a-brac to clothing, linen, toys and stationery. The focus, however, is clearly on babies and young children. There are cots and car seats, baby clothes and shoes, blankies and softie toys. “We’ve had amazing support from the public,” says Liza, “and more donations arrive every day. That keeps the shop interesting as you never
know what you’ll find here – and the goods are so well-priced that they just fly off the shelves!” Raising funds for Hermanus Child & Family Services (formerly Child Welfare) is a cause close to Liza’s heart and she was approached by board member, Claire Hugo, to get the shop off the ground. “I’m just the facilitator here,” says Liza, “and Asiphe Mbuku is the one who will eventually be managing the shop.” Nineteenyear-old Asiphe, who matriculated last year, has herself been cared for and protected by HCFS during her childhood and is now ready to brave the adult world on her own. Please ‘be kind’ and support this very special shop by dropping off
any second-hand goods that you are no longer using, or call Liza on 072 883 3894 to arrange for collection. It could be anything from kitchenware to furniture, clothes, toys or baby equipment. HCFS is a non-profit organisation registered with the Department of Social Development and mandated to provide child protection services in the area from Swartdam Road to the edge of Hawston. The purpose of HCFS is to promote the safety and well-being of children around Hermanus within families and the broader community through different programmes aimed at child protection intervention, child abuse prevention, and early childhood development. – Hedda Mittner
