Some of the elderly people at Rotary Old People’s Home in Mahikeng shed tears in appreciation of a visit and gifts from children at the Montshiwa Seventh Day Adventist Church at the weekend.

Kids under the Adventurers and Pathfinders clubs visited the over 20 elderly men and women staying at the centre and held a special singing and prayer service.

Led by their leaders Rosie Sanders and Mpho Maimela, the children also donated toiletries to the elderly people.

Daphney Wrona, 80, said the visit was a special blessing. “Since I started staying here over a year ago, I have never seen such love.

“These kids have really given us a sense of belonging, a sense of reconnection with the outside world and I really appreciate it.”

Wrona also indicated that life at the centre was relatively good and they were happy with the food and care they received.

Another granny, Lene Zyl, 67, said she also appreciated the warmth the kids brought and indicated that such visits should be made more frequent.

“We are so blessed to have a community of church people who could spare their time to be with us. This should be done more often so that we revive the family memories we also used to have back in those days.”

One of the caregivers at the centre, Norah Oepeng thanked organisers of the visit and the donations. “We are very relieved today because some of these elderly people miss their families so much and a mere sight of children gives them great joy.

Some of them have been left here for a long time and their relatives either do not visit or when they do they don’t spend time with them.”

Oepeng added that some of the family members were not supportive enough and sometimes they spent time without sending toiletries for their parents.

“The gifts come in handy and they would give new purpose to most of our elderly people here. It is not every day that they get these things.”
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