Shoprite among the first to donate care packs to Brackengate facility

The Shoprite Group answered the call for donations to the newly completed Brackengate field hospital, part of the Hospital of Hope, by making available 330 care packs containing blankets and toiletries for COVID-19 patients.

This donation comes on the back of a similar one of 250 care packs to Western Cape Government Health which were distributed among patients making use of the isolation facilities in the Province. Apart from a blanket, each pack contains a blanket, soap, waterless hand sanitiser, a face cloth, toothbrush and toothpaste.

“The aim with the Spreading Warmth Mandela Day drive is to provide essential items that will promote the recovery of COVID-19 patients from our most vulnerable communities. Although we’re grateful for all the rain, it has meant that we’ve experienced a bitterly cold winter this year. Thank you for the donation, Shoprite, and we will make sure the care packs reach the right people,” says Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, Western Cape MEC for Health.

“We consider the Brackengate facility our neighbour because it is so close to our Home Office in Brackenfell. As a good neighbour we just had to reach out and help. The only way we’ll overcome this crisis is by standing together across sectors and by acting as good neighbours,” says Lunga Schoeman, CSI manager of the Shoprite Group.

The facility, which will admit its first patients   in mid-July, is able to accommodate 338 COVID-19 patients and is equipped to administer oxygen treatment.

Individuals and companies wanting to join Shoprite in Spreading Warmth, can contact Harry Grainger at The Health Foundation for more information on how to donate: 021 418 1580 / 072 6133 719 / harry@thehealthfoundation.org.za

You can also drop off your care packs. Carefully label it with “Spreading Warmth” and your name and drop it off at: The Health Foundation offices at 16th Floor Norton Rose House, 8 Riebeek Street, Cape Town.

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Photo caption: Wendy van Rensburg, Sustainability Manager of the Shoprite Group, hands one of the care packages to Dr Barry Smith, the CEO of the Brackengate Intermediate Care facility.