Partnership of giving brings joy to Bara kids

Children in paediatric wards at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital were overjoyed to receive packs containing reading books, colouring books, workbooks, and crayons recently. What with their families not being allowed to visit them, they were given the packs along with a donation of DVDs to the wards to keep them entertained.

Yudi Leibowitz, a physiotherapist at the hospital, and the Union of Jewish Women (UJW) in Johannesburg were responsible for this joy. Leibowitz wanted to do something for the children at the hospital, so she contacted Bev Cohen, the convenor of UJW Johannesburg’s Bags for New Beginnings project. The UJW sprang into action, partnering with Amy Pleaner from Back a Pupil, who supplied the packs.

UJW’s Bags for New Beginnings also supplies starter packs for new moms at various clinics and hospitals around Johannesburg. Many of these women have absolutely nothing for their newborns, with some preparing to take their babies home wrapped in newspaper. The packs include babygros, vests, beanies, nappies, a blanket, a soft toy, as well as pamper items for moms. Recent distributions were made to Hope of the Hopeless for a day of baby showers, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, and Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital.