Soap can help

Have you ever given much thought to the bits of soap that remain after you have used up a bar? You know — the thin sliver that slips through your soap dish or slips out of your hand before you can get a lather going!

Like most of us, Sharlene Solomon had not thought much about this at all, until she visited a Centre for orphaned children in Ebony Park, Gauteng. “The Centre cares for about 300 children on a daily basis. When I asked them about their needs, I expected the usual responses such as food, clothes etc. To my surprise Lillian, who runs the Centre, told me that even old soap is useful. They boil down the bits of soap to make new bars for the children, so that they can have a bath with soap.”

This story touched Sharlene and she decided to collect soap bars to donate to the home in August last year and she plans on doing so again now. “I just thought, of all the things that they are looking for, old soap is something that we do not give a second thought about.” She is also hoping to collect canned food, clothing and of course, new soap bars.

The Centre provides food and clothing for the children. However, it is too small to house them on a fulltime basis, so at night they return to their parent-less homes. However, for six days a week these children are cared for — they receive food to eat, help with their homework and a caring, safe environment.

Sharlene has a special reason for wanting to help others: “When I returned home from a three year stay overseas, I wanted to do something to help in some way. I knew I was back for a reason and suddenly I knew why — I was meant to help Lillian and the children at the Centre.”

This is Sharlene’s story of help. To read more stories like these, visit www.youcanhelp.co.za

To find out how you can help:

Sharlene Solomon
(t) Lillian Sebeka 0727176235
email: [email protected]
#YouCanHelp