"I don't know how Tafta can care for us with THE LITTLE we pay!"

"I don't know how they can give me my own room, three meals a day, and I don't have to pay electricity or water."

It's always nice to be appreciated. And Mr O, who lives at our John Conradie House, is very thankful to be here.

But the truth is, without support from our wonderfully caring Durban community, we couldn't provide shelter and care to people like Mr O.

Right now there are so many living in our Homes who can't pay the full cost. How can anyone survive on a monthly pension of just R1 700? You can't even rent a tiny room in the worst part of town for that! And even if you could, how would you pay for food, electricity and water, transport and medicines?

Mr O worked hard throughout his adult life as a timber and tobacco farmer. Seven years ago, he relocated to Durban with only his state pension – and discovered how hard it was to make ends meet. The only place he could afford was a shelter for homeless people. During the time he spent there, he was mugged four times and was badly hurt during one of the attacks.

So when he came to Tafta for help, there's no way we could turn him away. He couldn't afford to pay for his accommodation at John Conradie House. But we welcomed him anyway.

Because elderly people – many of them destitute, frail, forgetful, unable to walk, and without any family to help care for them – need our protection, love and support.

MAKE A DONATION

We depend on the kindness of people like you to help us care for elders like Mr O – and Mr K, described by our social worker as 'broken – financially, physically and emotionally' before he came to Tafta. And dear old Mrs X, who escaped an abusive family home with only one suitcase in her hand.

Your gift of R500, R250, R1 000 or any amount you can spare, helps make up the shortfall between what pensioners can afford to pay – and the real cost of food, accommodation and care. So please will you reach out to an elder in need? Make your donation online right now!

One day you, or someone you love, may need Tafta's help. And your caring today will 'pay it forward' ... allowing us to keep on caring for elders into the future.