Local radio station seeks to raise a million shoes for schoolchildren
ALEXANDRA – Local radio station, Alex FM seeks help to donate one million shoes to schoolchildren in Alex.
Community members and businesses are urged to donate school shoes for underprivileged children under the One Million School Shoes for Alex campaign run by local radio station, Alex FM.
Station manager Takalane Nemangowe said the campaign coincided with the station’s 22nd birthday.
Read: Radio station manager suspended
“After the station turned 22 years, the board saw it fit that we start giving back in a more meaningful way,” Nemangowe said.
He said the 11-member board, led by Pam Mallela, thought of the idea in March after realising that giving back by providing information to the community was not enough.
“It was then they decided that school shoes were the way to go because this is an issue that affects many children in the community.”
Read: New Alex FM Radio head aims high
Nemangowe appealed to citizens to put aside money for a pair of school shoes when buying their groceries.
“The little money you put aside every month for a pair of shoes can go a long way and actually help a lot of children who need school shoes.”
The board has not set a date when the campaign will end.
“This is a long-term campaign we have embarked on and for it to be successful, a date for when the campaign will end has not been set. People who want to donate can bring the shoes to the station and they will be distributed when enough [shoes] have been collected for a school that is next on the programme.
Read: Spar, Caxton donate running shoes
“This does not mean that we will wait until a million pairs of shoes have been collected in order to start with the distribution, we will distribute as soon as enough shoes have been collected.”
Since the campaign was started, Nemangowe said people have been responding positively.
“We recently donated some shoes to Ekukhanyiseni Primary School and have partnered with a local security company that has pledged to donate 100 pairs of shoes towards this cause,” Nemangowe concluded.
Read: Metro police musician wows social media
The campaign is set to impact children from every school in Alex.
Alex FM is committed to giving back to the community and recently donated 300 food parcels to needy citizens of the community during Heritage Month.
Details: Alex FM 011 440 5419.
Edited by Stacey Woensdregt
