Help us restore dignity to the forgotten elderly
Right now, behind closed doors in our communities, there is a silent crisis of loneliness, pain, and lost dignity.
At Helping SA, we see a level of heartbreak every day that is hard to put into words. While our daily mission involves supporting struggling families and child-headed households—where 10-year-olds are forced to step up and raise their hungry siblings—our hearts are currently heavy for another forgotten group. Since 2013, Helping SA has refused to turn our backs on them.
When most people think of elderly care, they picture seniors who might just need a little help getting to church or the grocery store, but the reality we see is far more severe. Many of these older folks spent their entire lives working hard and sacrificing to provide for their children, leaving them unable to save for their own old age. Now, they are completely neglected by those very same families. A relative might visit once a year with a small amount of food, but for the rest of the year, they sit in crushing isolation.
For the forgotten elderly, the nightmare begins the moment they wake up in a freezing, broken-down backroom with a bare cement floor and sometimes no windows. They wake up hungry, with no hot water to wash themselves, no shampoo, and not even R20 to buy a basic loaf of bread.
They suffer from arthritis, hip replacements, and chronic lung conditions like COPD, yet they shiver through the night because they had to sell their blankets just to eat. Every single day, many are forced into an impossible choice: getting to clinics and hospitals for their chronic medication, or buying a loaf of bread. They simply cannot afford both. When they are forced to take their medication on an empty stomach, it leaves them nauseous and weak.
Right now, we are running a special drive aimed directly at our elderly, but we are currently facing a critical shortage of resources.
Our current drive for the elderly is about more than just standard relief. We are focusing on their specific medical needs by delivering specialized food parcels—like whole-wheat bread, fresh vegetables, and low-GI foods—suited for chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Just as importantly, our goal is to cure their loneliness by providing a listening ear, emotional support, and the respect they deserve.
We want to give them back their dignity. Please help us bring warmth, proper nourishment, and a little bit of hope to those who have been left behind.
We Desperately Need Your Help
We are asking you to please consider stepping in as a lifeline for our forgotten elderly.
• Your donation ensures a senior gets a proper, warm, and medically-suited meal every day, allowing them to take their chronic medication safely.
• Your kindness buys comfortable clothing, proper shoes, or clean bedding to ensure their daily comfort.
• Your support gives a vulnerable older person the chance to age with dignity, comfort, and peace, rather than spending their final years worrying about basic survival.
We know that times are incredibly tough for everyone right now. But whether it’s a larger corporate contribution or a quick R50 from your personal account, every single cent goes directly toward putting nourishing food on an elder's plate and ensuring they are safe and cared for, no matter the season.
All donations are fully tax-deductible, and we will gladly issue a Section 18A tax receipt for your contribution.
If you are in a position to help, please help us secure these vital food parcels. You can contribute through our secure online portal or via a direct EFT.
Right now, behind closed doors in our communities, there is a silent crisis of loneliness, pain, and lost dignity.
At Helping SA, we see a level of heartbreak every day that is hard to put into words. While our daily mission involves supporting struggling families and child-headed households—where 10-year-olds are forced to step up and raise their hungry siblings—our hearts are currently heavy for another forgotten group. Since 2013, Helping SA has refused to turn our backs on them.
When most people think of elderly care, they picture seniors who might just need a little help getting to church or the grocery store, but the reality we see is far more severe. Many of these older folks spent their entire lives working hard and sacrificing to provide for their children, leaving them unable to save for their own old age. Now, they are completely neglected by those very same families. A relative might visit once a year with a small amount of food, but for the rest of the year, they sit in crushing isolation.
For the forgotten elderly, the nightmare begins the moment they wake up in a freezing, broken-down backroom with a bare cement floor and sometimes no windows. They wake up hungry, with no hot water to wash themselves, no shampoo, and not even R20 to buy a basic loaf of bread.
They suffer from arthritis, hip replacements, and chronic lung conditions like COPD, yet they shiver through the night because they had to sell their blankets just to eat. Every single day, many are forced into an impossible choice: getting to clinics and hospitals for their chronic medication, or buying a loaf of bread. They simply cannot afford both. When they are forced to take their medication on an empty stomach, it leaves them nauseous and weak.
Right now, we are running a special drive aimed directly at our elderly, but we are currently facing a critical shortage of resources.
Our current drive for the elderly is about more than just standard relief. We are focusing on their specific medical needs by delivering specialized food parcels—like whole-wheat bread, fresh vegetables, and low-GI foods—suited for chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Just as importantly, our goal is to cure their loneliness by providing a listening ear, emotional support, and the respect they deserve.
We want to give them back their dignity. Please help us bring warmth, proper nourishment, and a little bit of hope to those who have been left behind.
We Desperately Need Your Help
We are asking you to please consider stepping in as a lifeline for our forgotten elderly.
• Your donation ensures a senior gets a proper, warm, and medically-suited meal every day, allowing them to take their chronic medication safely.
• Your kindness buys comfortable clothing, proper shoes, or clean bedding to ensure their daily comfort.
• Your support gives a vulnerable older person the chance to age with dignity, comfort, and peace, rather than spending their final years worrying about basic survival.
We know that times are incredibly tough for everyone right now. But whether it’s a larger corporate contribution or a quick R50 from your personal account, every single cent goes directly toward putting nourishing food on an elder's plate and ensuring they are safe and cared for, no matter the season.
All donations are fully tax-deductible, and we will gladly issue a Section 18A tax receipt for your contribution.
If you are in a position to help, please help us secure these vital food parcels. You can contribute through our secure online portal or via a direct EFT.
