Dear Parkview, Greenside East residents and friends,
 

Day 60!  Well done Parkview residents. We have survived two months in lockdown and we still managed to keep a sense of humour.  It’s wonderful to hear all the friendly chatter and laughter when, as what feels like the entire suburb and their dogs, hit the road every morning.
 

My name is Caryl Kelly and I will be taking over the Marketing & Communication portfolio from Theresa.  We bid her a very sad farewell as she heads off to Fish Hoek with Duncan.  I hope to serve the community well and to keep on doing the good work that Theresa has been doing.  These are big shoes to fill and there are many facets to this portfolio and community, so please extend some grace my way as I navigate new territory.

Here’s an update on what we have been up to and on what’s happening in our area at the moment.  Covid-19 remains the focus. But first …

Thank you to Theresa

Theresa Gibbon has served our community for over 13 years as the Marketing and Communication PRA Exco Member.  She went above and beyond to help build a really strong body, actively involved in its community, and ensured that our suburb remains well run and tidy.  
 
As the PRA Exco, we would like to formally thank Theresa for all her hard work and for the many hours of her personal time that she has poured into our community.  We wish her and her family all the very best as they move into this new chapter.  Fish Hoek is blessed to have them as a part of their community. We are going to miss seeing you walk our beautiful tree lined avenues, dear Theresa!

Thank you to our residents

We remain humbled by your generosity as a community.  Not many things are certain at this time, but the number of desperate people out there that are starving is! Your contributions have gone a long way and as the PRA we want to say THANK YOU! 
 

Thanks to your financial contributions and the time and effort of many volunteers we managed to accomplish the following since lockdown began:
 

We provided 58 people with R200 or R250 supermarket VOUCHERS over the last two weeks.  Our database of people who appealed to us for assistance keeps growing.  These donations largely came from residents transferring their loyalty points into Checkers vouchers. Those that we have helped include our regular recyclers, broom sellers and street cleaning team.  Ten of our food parcels last week were distributed to some of these people, together with a dry food donation to the BP employees.  Special thanks goes to Philanie Jooste for helping facilitate this process that has become increasingly more demanding and challenging. 
 

You helped support our car guards with a weekly sum while they were not able to work. They are now back and helping to keep our shopping precinct clean and parking organised.  Please continue to tip them.

We contributed R25 000 towards the Inner City CAN project.  The project supports many families in the inner city who either receive R100 or R200 vouchers or R400 vegetable boxes to last a month, depending on their vulnerability.  We are committed to providing them with a further R7 500 every week for the next three weeks based on what you have already contributed.

To date we provided Ward 87 with 90 FOOD PARCELS feeding a family of four for two weeks.  We committed to 40 parcels that our CAG members are packing weekly for the next three weeks.  

We are able to continue with guaranteed contributions for the next three weeks, but as we are all aware, our economic crisis will not improve by then and we urge everyone to keep donating as they can. Every R250 goes a long way.

The PRA also collected R114 996 for GIFT OF GIVERS, approximately 460 families (around 1 840 people) benefited from this contribution alone. 

The above does not include all the collections for Park Care, Princess Alice, various shelters, the Pirates food parcels and home-made mask collections.  If you would like to continue to support Park Care and Princess Alice, please let us know. They are so close and remain in need of nappies, formula, porridge, fresh fruit, vitamins and high protein drinks.

Your purchasing vouchers from our local businesses has allowed many of our shop owners to keep their expenses covered and their staff paid while not being able to trade. We have attached this list again should you want to continue to support these businesses in this way.

We also have some amazing community members going out of their way to help feed the hungry in and around Parkview.  

From the PRA, our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you.  

MES needs our support
 

Many of our collections over the next few weeks will be in support of MES. We had the privilege of being in a meeting with our local churches and Leona Pienaar, the CEO of MES, a couple of weeks ago.  We were so impressed by the amazing work that this organisation, now in its 41st year, is doing to help the poor and vulnerable in our city.  They are showing great compassion while trying to help all individuals irrespective of their race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation or cultural background. They strive to empower people to live independent, sustainable and meaningful lives. You can learn more about them and the incredible work that they do by visiting their website www.mes.org.za.  Please see the attached flyer for the collection days and points. 

How you can help
 

VOUCHERS.  Please continue to buy and supply the PRA with supermarket vouchers to support families in need.  

CASH.  We need a steady income in order to maintain our contributions to the Ward 87 food parcels initiative and vouchers mentioned above.  The details are in the attached flyer.

CAR GUARDS.  Viv Marincowitz has been taking care of our car guards for a number of years now and needs to pass this baton onto someone else in the community. If you are willing to take on this small but important task please email us on info@parkview.org.za.

WEEKLY CHARITY COLLECTIONS.  We will run a number of collections over the next few weeks.  Please support these, any amount is appreciated.  They are listed in the flyer below.

COOL IDEAS DATA COLLECTION.  The PRA would like to help facilitate a data collection process to establish if there are specific weak spots in the area that need attention from Cool Ideas. If you are able to help us facilitate the collection of this data please contact us on info@parkview.org.za.

Stress support during lockdown

Debbi Burman from Parkview Victim Support Unit (VSU) acknowledges the enormous strain that families are going through during this lockdown period. She encourages residents to phone the unit on 073 280 4453 should they wish to speak to one of their counsellors. Symptoms of stress can include insomnia, excessive tiredness, feelings of anxiety or panic and breathlessness. 

She also encourages parents to be on the lookout for signs of stress in children who are missing their school friends and the daily routine. “They may become more needy, need to share your bed again, revert to thumb-sucking, bed-wetting or unusual crying and temper tantrums.”

Normal issues with teenagers may become intensified and need to be handled calmly. Their peers are very important to them and social media is a good way for them to keep contact. Parents need to acknowledge their frustrations and conversations amongst the family members should be encouraged. 

The VSU with its team of counsellors are trained in debriefing. They can talk to you and provide advice. Should you need more than they can offer, they are able to provide referrals to the relevant professionals.                                                                 
[Credit to Emmarentia Residents’ Association]

CAG can help you

Please do not hesitate to contact our Community Assistance Group if you need help getting shopping done or need to be taken to an appointment.  We do not want the elderly people in our community to be put at risk having to do shopping or not being able to get to appointments.  Should you need assistance please email info@parkview.org.za or SMS 083 268 4441.

Exercise caution

There have been reports of mobile phones and personal effects being stolen off joggers and walkers early in the morning. So please be extra vigilant when exercising in our suburbs.
 
Our Ward Councillor, Bridget Steer has also appealed to our cyclists to be careful and to stay off the Jozi Trails where a number of cyclists have been held up at knife/gun point, and rather to stick to open areas that are legally open for public use.  
 
There have also been a few reports about dog fights and children feeling unsafe as a result of dogs not being on leads during the allocated exercise time.  Our roads are busy during this time and we appeal to all our residents to please keep your dogs on a lead so that this can be avoided.  You will also know that the bylaws require dogs to be on leashes in public. Please also remember to take your poop bags along and to clean up after your dogs.
 

WhatsApp guidelines and etiquette

Please find attached the updated Guidelines and Etiquette for the Parkview Network WhatsApp groups 

In closing

A quote from novelist Herman Melville:

“We cannot live only for ourselves.  A thousand fibres connect us with our fellow man; and among those fibres, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.”

Thanks again for your generosity and kindness.  
 
Stay home, stay safe and stay healthy
God bless
Caryl

Caryl Kelly
Marketing & Communication
info@parkview.org.za
083 268 4441 (office hours only)

PRA fees
 
Thank you to all who have already paid their PRA fees for 2020, your payments are much appreciated.  If you’ve forgotten to pay, the banking details are:

Parkview Residents Association
First National Bank, Rosebank (253305)
Current Account - 50332119813
Reference: Member Fees "your name"