It's been a tough year
for all of us

Especially for elders, who’ve been terrified of dying of Covid-19 and kept apart from their loved ones for months on end. Some have lost dear friends and family members. Added to the tragedy of the loss, was the reality of not being able to say goodbye. And it’s a powerful reminder that we all need to live for the moment.

That’s why we want to make this Christmas extra special for our elderly folk. But it’s going to take generous help from caring people like you.

Tafta traditionally 'goes big' at this time of the year. With support from the good people of Durban, we make sure that every elder in our care gets invited to a delicious three-course festive lunch ... with roast lamb and chicken, potatoes, veg and Christmas pudding or trifle on the menu.

And even though we’ve managed to keep the cost down to just R120 per person – when you multiply that by the 1 367 elders on our invitation list, you’ll understand why we can’t manage this without help.

For many of these old men and women, our Tafta Christmas lunch is the highlight of the year ... something they look forward to with great anticipation ... a rare opportunity to dress up in their best and enjoy good food and good company.

Of course things will be a bit different this year. Each lunch will be limited to 50 people to allow for social distancing. That means having up to eight ‘sittings’ at some of the larger venues, to make sure that no one gets left out.

Between sittings, surfaces will be wiped down and sanitized to keep everyone safe. We won’t be able to welcome volunteers to help out. We’ll have to do it all ourselves. And we will!

Your donation of R240 pays for two elderly friends or a couple to go to the lunch together. And if you’re feeling especially generous, you might want to sponsor a Christmas lunch for four, six or even ten elders with your donation of R480, R720 or R1200.

When you make your donation, be sure to include a special message for the elderly man or woman you’re treating to lunch. Your message will be added to the table ‘tent’ cards so they’ll know this gift is from you.

Many of these elders are pensioners who can’t afford to buy any treats to make Christmas special – not even a packet of biscuits or a small chocolate bar. Your kindness not only brings them great pleasure – it will also make your own festivities more meaningful – knowing that you’ve shared the spirit of the season with someone less fortunate. Thank you and may God bless you!