By Nangamso Mabindla
21 August 2007

BUFFALO City took time of from its usual business - service delivery - and played its part in taking care of the needy by contributing to the Community Chest.

Formed in 1985 as a non-profit organisation, the Buffalo City Community Chest aims to provide financial support towards the running costs of worthy, sustainable, community-based projects. In response, the City decided to play its part as a donor, so helping the NGO to achieve its goals.

And the City's contribution was recognised when it won a gold award at the NGO's Red Feather Awards last week.

President of the Buffalo City Community Chest, Laura Nel, said that the Red Feather Awards were set up to recognise the organisation's supporters. “We use the awards to honour the supporters of the chest; and the municipality is one of these supporters. Through its grant-in-aid donation, it has been supporting the chest for a number of years.”

Awards range from bronze to diamond. Gold awards were given to organisations that had contributed between R12 000 and R25 000 to the Community Chest coffers. “Buffalo City was one of several organisations to receive a gold award. We really are grateful for the support from business, the government and the broader community of Buffalo City,” she said.

Nel was pleased that Executive Mayor Zintle Peter was a patron of the Community Chest. “The mayor is very community-minded and has a strong heart for the community. We have aligned our organisation with what she stands for.”

She called on families and organisations to support the chest and make a difference to the lives of the city's people.