RESULTS FROM THE RECENT APPEAL

For those of you who may not have received or read our appeal,  we have now been working on knit-a-square and its administrative not-for-profit body, KasCare, for more than a year without external funding.

Our primary purpose is to raise funds on two scales. From individuals who want to see their gifts being spent directly on the needs of the children. And from inspired organizations in the corporate and business world to fund the the administration of our organisation KasCare.

We have only very recently been incorporated, so are just 6 weeks into our funding applications. So far any funding from the corporate world is yet to be realised.  But we have a very urgent and real need.

We MUST secure the South African operation.  Ronda needs immediate help to manage the volume of squares and items, data recording, organising the volunteers and distributing the blankets.   She can also no longer sustain the day to day expenses of running the organisation from her own funds without reimbursement.

In our application to Stephen Lewis Foundation recently, an organisation who specifically funds community based not for profit associations, such as ours, working for people affected or infected by HIV AIDS in  Africa,  we were asked to spell out exactly what would be required to secure our South African operations.  The total requirement for 2010 is  ZAR272,000 (USD$36,050.39)(Can$38,823.31), (21,983.79 GBP).  Clearly, we have a long way to go.

Stephen Lewis have just written this very polite letter to us, which is neither hopeful or hopeless:

Dear Roger,
 
Please forgive me for taking so long to respond.  We are rather overwhelmed with proposals at the moment but we are doing our very best to get through each and every one as quickly but as thoroughly as possible.  This could take several more weeks and I know that is hard to hear and I wish I could do more but that is just the way that it is at the moment.
 
I will be back in touch asap, I promise you.
 
Best,  Anne

So in light of that, we must proceed with other means to make the money. We would dearly love to be able to have the funds to pay duty, (recently we have been asked to pay a 2 – 3 dollar charge on all international boxes arriving), transport costs  and some trestle tables to save our ladies backs.  We really need to pay a part time person to help with collection, sorting and bundling.

This is a very physical job and it is taking its toll, although believe me there is no lack of passionate desire to continue the work.   But we do need more money!   Please if you have not given, would you consider a small donation.

If all the forum members gave just a small amount on a monthly basis every month, that would actually cover all we need for South Africa.    You can actually set up a recurring payment through PayPal (right here on the right!) 

As we said in our earlier appeal it is unthinkable that our work to warm the children or that our awareness raising of their plight should stop.