Latest news with #RayofHope
The Citizen
28-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Glen Hills baby home appeals for donations
THE Ray of Hope Babies Home has been a place of safety for abandoned and vulnerable infants in Glen Hills for 15 years. Recently, Crisis mother Rachel Uys noticed a decline in donations, sponsorships, and volunteers and is calling on the community to help alleviate the mounting pressure it is experiencing. Uys said the drop in donations over the past year has placed the NPO in a difficult position. 'The economic climate has affected everyone, and we've really felt the impact. While we're incredibly grateful for the church and community members who continue to support us, we are in need of more help,' said Uys. The home, which consistently cares for six babies up to the age of three and a half, provides round-the-clock care, medical attention, and emotional support. Some children require specialised formula, medication for eczema or withdrawal symptoms, and other tailored treatments which pushes the monthly care costs up to R3000 per child in certain cases. The recent financial strain has forced the organisation to consider temporary staff downsizing. Volunteers have stepped in to fill the gap, but more are needed. 'We've had to temporarily let go of one of our casual caregivers. I have stepped in but I also have a ton of operational duties to see to such as hospitals and clinic visits, court visits, shopping, etc. And as the children grow, their needs grow too. It's not just baby formula. Toddlers need solids, new clothes, and pull-ups,' Uys explained. 'Unfortunately, people often only think of the babies when donating, but our toddlers need just as much. We need long-term volunteers who can commit their time regularly. Even one extra person helping with meals or laundry makes a huge difference,' said Uys. Currently, staff live on the premises part-time and are grateful for basic food donations like rice, mealie meal, bread, and spreads. Ray of Hope welcomes individual and corporate donations, and can issue Section 18A certificates for tax-deductible contributions. Supporters are encouraged to reach out via phone or email to request the home's current wish list of essential items and child-specific needs. 'Every donation counts whether it's cash, nappies, or your time. Together, we can keep giving these little ones the love and care they deserve,' she said. To make a donation or for their donation wish list and sponsorship opportunities, call Uys on 084 924 3100 or email info@ For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Business Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- Business Times
New initiative Walk for Hope aims to raise S$500,000 for those in need
[SINGAPORE] Charity organisation Ray of Hope launched Walk for Hope on Tuesday (May 20) to raise about S$500,000 for various marginalised groups. The 6 kilometre island-wide walkathon is set to take place on Jul 26, and aims to rally around 2,000 participants including individuals, walking community groups, schools and corporate partners. The funds will go towards serving a range of individuals from marginalised groups, such as migrant workers, foreign domestic workers, and lower-income families and individuals. Walk for Hope also aims to raise awareness of the social issues they face. In an interview with The Business Times, Dr Alicia Altorfer-Ong, executive director of Ray of Hope, said that the charity serves 'emerging and unmet needs' in the community. 'That's fairly broad, because we know that for as long as there's a policy, there will be those who fall outside of it – either that, or they don't have enough support in spite of receiving some. They might be, for example, migrant workers who face a sudden medical crisis or a family which suddenly encounters a fire and loses everything.' Ray of Hope's beneficiaries have mid to severe needs, she noted, adding that they usually have no other alternative forms of help. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up The registration fee to join Walk for Hope is S$60 per person, but Dr Ong acknowledged that this alone will not hit the S$500,000 target. For this initiative, she hopes to tap peer-to-peer campaigns, where participants can bring onboard more people – such as friends, family members and colleagues – to join. Ray of Hope is Singapore's only crowdfunding charity, where it is referred cases and each one is verified by case workers. They conduct home visits, evaluate the potential beneficiary's situation and contact other stakeholders who may be involved before launching a crowdfunding campaign on their own online platform. Dr Ong noted: 'Unlike other crowdfunding platforms, which are for profit, we ensure that 100 per cent of donations go to clients on our platform. (Walk for Hope) is one way that we can get enough funds for our operations, which include case management and meeting the clients where they are.' In addition to one crowdfunding campaign per individual, Ray of Hope also organises community-building events. It has run several pilot programmes for various marginalised groups to engage with the community on a larger scale. One such example is Kopi Teh Morning. 'We involved three youths on the autism spectrum, and over the last year, we brought them to 16 engagement sessions with four different corporates so that they could have social engagement opportunities in a professional setting,' Dr Ong said, adding that the charity hopes to scale up this programme this year. The youths are now able to qualify for day activity centres or sheltered workshops after this additional exposure. Many of Ray of Hope's community-building events are tied to festivals or special occasions, such as Chinese New Year or Ramadan. The charity involves former clients who become volunteers and continues to engage them. Dr Ong added: '(Community-building) is designed to give people the resources and cash in hand, and include them in a broader community through volunteer efforts and events.' Since 2012, Ray of Hope has raised around S$21 million and helped more than 1,200 families. Those interested in registering for Walk for Hope can visit
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Foilboarder entangled in nets near pier saved by lifeboat crew
A foilboarder caught up in fishing nets near a pier in Sussex has been rescued by lifeboat crews. Littlehampton RNLI were first called at 3.09pm on Saturday, April 5 to assist the foilboarder in trouble near Bognor Regis pier. The boarder's foil had become entangled in the netting. The crew helped the person onto the D-Class lifeboat, Ray of Hope, and returned them to their family on the beach. READ MORE: Home destroyed in huge blaze that tore through building At 4.47pm, the crew were called again to assist a paddleboarder struggling at Littlehampton East Beach. The person was helped onto the lifeboat and returned to the beach, where a crew member waited with them until the Coastguard arrived. The rescues marked the first for Littlehampton RNLI volunteer Mark Nicholls as helm. Mr Nicholls said: "I qualified as helm in December, and my first shout as helm quickly turned into my second. "It was a busy two hours, but that's what we're here for - to help everyone." The lifeboat returned to the station at 5.30pm. The RNLI advises people to learn about water safety to keep themselves and their loved ones safe at the coast and in the water.
