After floodwaters tore through parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo earlier this month, the scenes of damage were hard to watch. Roads washed away, homes flooded and parts of the beloved Kruger National Park were left scarred. Seeing this, the team at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre knew that standing by was not an option and immediately raised their hands to help.
Acting quickly, with heart
After hearing Jacaranda FM launch its Good Morning Angels Project Flood Relief initiative, Menlyn Park moved fast to be part of the response. Understanding how deeply these regions matter to its shoppers, the centre got on the phone and committed a cash donation of R250,000 to support immediate relief and recovery efforts.
Centre Manager Nisha Kemraj said, “The devastation was overwhelming to see. These are places many of our shoppers know and love, and we felt a strong responsibility to step in and help in a way that could make a real difference.”
When shoppers step forward
Additional to the cash donation, Menlyn Park opened three of its largest centre courts over the weekend to serve as convenient donation points for the Pretoria community, making it easy to donate without having to drive to the Jacaranda FM studio in Midrand. The response was heartfelt and immediate, with donations quickly filling the collection boxes. Shoppers arrived throughout the weekend with bags and boxes filled with essentials such as non-perishable food, bottled water, nappies and baby formula.
“All we did was open the doors and create the space,” Kemraj added. “Our shoppers did the rest. Their generosity was deeply moving.”
All donated items were delivered to Jacaranda FM in time for the station’s coordinated delivery to flood-affected areas, in collaboration with Gift of the Givers, who are assisting to ensure that the support reaches those who need it most.
Through this collective effort, Menlyn Park once again played its role as a trusted place where care, kindness and action come together.
