A Jozi Winter Sunrise (Lockdown Day 77)
For the last couple of Thursdays mornings, I have intended to get myself to Heritage Baptist Church and the Melville food distribution by 6:00 a.m. The food parcel recipients have been lining up as early as 4:00 a.m., and the whole process is more or less finished by the time the sun comes up. I’m supposed to be documenting the program. But last week I arrived at 7:00 and basically missed everything.
We’re nearing the dead of winter in Joburg, when it’s cold and dark and nearly impossible (at least for me) to get out of bed before sunrise. But this week I made myself accountable by arranging to walk up to the church with another volunteer at 6:00 on the dot. (Thanks Lucy!) So we made it.
I chose the right day to be up early. A cold front is about to blow into Joburg (there was snow in the Western Cape this morning, and below-freezing temperatures are on their way to town by tomorrow), which means the normally clear winter sky was scattered with clouds. I had the privilege of watching a phenomenal sunrise.
The sunrise was beautiful and cheered me up a bit – I think it was the first sunrise I’ve seen since lockdown started. But the parcel distribution itself was sobering, as usual.
Since so many people in Melville work in the hospitality industry, Tanya would like to keep this food parcel program going until restaurants can fully open again. There’s no telling when that will happen – COVID-19 cases continue to rise in South Africa – or how many of Melville’s restaurants will even still be around when the time comes. The situation is very dire.
If you’d like to donate to the food parcel program from within South Africa, please send a payment to the Viva Foundation using the following bank details:
Name: Viva Foundation
Branch: FNB Olympus Plaza Code 258155
Acc Nr.: 622 4884 3270
Reference: Melville
SWIFT: FIRNZAJJZXXX
If you’d like to donate from overseas, please contact me. My apologies to those of you who contacted me last week and received delayed replies; I’m having an issue with my Google spam folder. I’m now checking the folder every day to make sure no messages fall through the cracks.
To everyone who donated last week: Thank you. Your support helped ensure this program will continue at least through next week. I personally received more than R7000 in donations from overseas, which covers more than 50 food parcels, and I know there were many local donations as well. So at least 50 Melville families – probably many more – will have food to eat this week because of you.
The wind is picking up outside as I type this. Stay warm tonight, South Africans. Speak to you tomorrow.
Comments
Beautiful pics of the sunrise sky, which was a special treat this morning :-)
I love winter sunrises. And I early morning walks because it’s the only time Los Angeles is even close to quiet.
But getting out of bed is so hard.
It’s sooooooo hard. All my normal routines are shot.
But it feels virtuous!
Those sunrise photos are amazing! Thanks for getting up so early in to help out at the church and for raising awareness of the dire situation. Stay warm! I hope you have a fireplace!
Thanks. Yes I do :)
:) Nice pics. I like Joburg winter :) ……that time of the morning is only ok if you walk, if you stand and wait it goes up your leg bones. :)
Yeah for sure. I could really live without this howling wind. It makes me so anxious.
Wind, you want wind? We’ll send you some wind, got so much to spare. db in CT. :)
Hahaha! I know, I really don’t envy you all down there in winter.
That sunrise! :)
I know.
Heather, I love reading your Chronicles. With regard to the Melville Food Relief programmme do you know whether it is possible to for another young family to join the queue.
Hi Glynne, yes, someone from the family just needs to go to Heritage Baptist Church on Monday morning (the queue starts earlier and earlier so it’s best to get there before 7) to get a ticket for the parcels on Thursday. If they run out of tickets then the family can get on the list for a parcel the following week.
I'll be offline from 15-19 May. Post on that will follow. I'll approve your comment when I'm back.