With the recent floods causing devastation to the people of our province and Durban in particular, Midlands Hindu Society embarked on a collection drive in an effort to bring some relief in this time of immense need.
In some cases people have been left with nothing and Midlands Hindu Society decided to put the Hindu teaching of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam –meaning, “the world is one family” into action by calling on all our people through our affiliates, friends and supporters of the organisation to come together in a combined effort to bring much needed relief to the victims of the floods by bringing along whatever they could spare with the emphasis being on canned foods and hygiene products.
The initiative took place on Wednesday, May 1 from 8am to 12pm and Midlands Hindu Society is pleased to say that the people heeded the call and generously supported the initiative. We received donations in cash and kind from various benevolent members of the public as well as affiliated members of the organisation; Hayfields Hindu Organisation, Ramakrishna Sub Centre, Pietermaritzburg; Shivyog Pietermaritzburg, Gujarati Vedic Society, Plessislaer Arya Samaj, Northdale Siva Nyana Sabha, Raisethorpe Arya Samaj, Vedic Yuvak Sabha, Veda Dharma Sabha, Jothi Nilayam, amongst others. A special mention must be made about the inspiring young men of Maritzburg College Hindu Society, who collected and contributed R5000 towards the Collection Drive for the Durban Flood Victims. Their social consciousness and responsibility is worthy of emulation.
Items collected included canned food, rice, sugar, soups, long life milk, clothing, shoes, soaps, toothpaste, sanitary pads, toilet paper, bedding, blankets and a mattress.
Copson Logistics provided a truck at the collection point where goods were loaded into the truck as collected and all the items were transported to Durban free of charge to the Sarva Dharma Ashram for distribution to the victims of the Durban Flood disaster. The Ashram is currently providing hot meals to the displaced flood victims and supplying them with food and sanitary hampers.
Midlands Hindu Society would like to thank all our affiliates, sponsors and donors who allowed us to make a collective contribution of over three tons of items. The triumph of the human spirit and the oneness of mankind was refreshing in the way the community responded to Midlands Hindu Society’s Durban Flood Relief drive. People opened their hearts, both young and old, rich and poor from all religious backgrounds came together to help the unfortunate victims of the Durban Floods. We are truly blessed in South Africa to have such a generous Nation who stands together in times of need. Ubuntu: “I am, because you are”. Together we can make a difference.