Lockdown – Preparation

Date posted: March 26, 2020

Dear Neighbours

Now that the full extent of the lockdown has become apparent, it is critical that we all do what we can to make sure that we are aware of, and have some form of communication with every household in our neighbourhood.

Connector Groups

(The Connector Groups are whatsapp groups, usually for residents of a street in the area.  If you don't have one in your street, make one and give the details to our Connector Group Organiser, Lynne Hogan who can be messaged on 072 905 4676.)

To date we have been we have been working through the connector groups to establish this but we also need everyone else’s help to locate those either not registered on our website or involved via a connector group.

Although we will continue this work into the lockdown, it will obviously become much more difficult to make contact with people we do not already know once we are in lockdown. Therefore we would urge everyone to take a little time on this final day before lockdown to:

• consider those living in your street or block


• identify anyone who might be vulnerable or who at some stage may be in need to help


• exchange contact details and set up some kind of system for checking in with one another


• encourage everyone to register or to check their details on the CPNW website cpnw.org.za as this will enable them to receive emails from us and to access other info already on the website


• identify potential resources in our community, in terms of supporting one another

Where there are nominated Community Connectors in place, we have requested that they start to develop lists that we will then collect into a number of databases, as follows:

• Contact information for every possible house


• Vulnerable individuals: over 70 or suffering from a chronic physical illness or any form of physical or psycho-social disability


• Individuals living on their own or who are the only adult in a household and may be in need of additional adult support


• Individuals who have professional training in a health-care related discipline who would be available to help should this be required.


• Individuals with security-related knowledge/experience who would be prepared to help, should this be required

(If you are not on a collector group and have info/want to help, please let us know by replying to this mail!)

Feeding Our Valley Fundraiser

We would also urge everyone to be aware of less-fortunate communities in the valley, where many will be struggling to make ends meet during this time. In this respect we would encourage people to support the Feeding Our Valley Fundraiser which we can verify as a legitimate and well-managed operation.

Please consider signing up – even an amount of R50 per week (less than two cups of coffee!) will make a huge difference if enough of us contribute.

See also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_m_-ysDego&t=4s

Donations can be made directly to:

FOWLER CONSULTING SERVICES
BANK: FNB ACCOUNT NUMBER: 62725803705
BRANCH CODE: 250655

Donations go directly to support existing feeding schemes in Masiphumelele, Ocean View and Red Hill.

Other ways to help

There is also a useful directory to match volunteers to organisations at: www.onelovesa,com  We would also like to encourage support for Fishoek Hospital (contact the CEO’s office on 021 782 1999) who have a wide range of needs including bleach, sanitiser, spray bottles, toilet paper, bottled water and food parcels as well as with transport for staff.

We would also encourage donations to the Solidarity Fund and we will also be publishing details of other ways to help, where we can verify appeals as legitimate. |Please let us know of any special needs you would like to be publicised!

Where finances permit we would also encourage everyone to keep paying employees even though you might not be receiving the service and to support local business that employee people.

Wishing everyone a safe stay at home!

The CPNW Committee