Good Morning Angels: Giving a granny who is raising three children a helping hand
Good Morning Angels helped a single granny who is raising three teenagers after great loss left their family divided.
At the age of 65, Berenice is not thinking of retiring. In her life, matric, Grade 10, and Grade six are top of mind. As a single grandmother of three school children, she’s been around this block before. She was married twice in her life. Once widowed and once fled from an abusive relationship.
She has been single for the past 17 years. She became her middle grandchild’s primary caregiver 13 years ago when his mother - Berenice’s daughter - was unable to due to substance abuse. Six years ago, the other two children’s mother died. Their dad did not cope as a single parent, and again Berenice stepped up.
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With her small salary, the children’s needs are becoming a bigger mountain by the day, and Berenice is already baking at all hours to supplement her income.
That’s why another grandmother who knows her reached out to Good Morning Angels.
REQUEST FOR: Berenice
REQUEST FROM: Jainni Cronje
ANGEL: The Good Morning Angels Fund NPC
SPONSORING: The Good Morning Angels listener fund will assist Berenice and her children with R40,000 to plug some holes and enable them to start the new year on the front foot.
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ORIGINAL REQUEST:
Good morning, Angels Team
I would like to introduce you to a very special grandmother who is in desperate need of help.
Mrs B, age 65, is the single caregiver of her three grandchildren, aged 17, 15, and 11.
The 15-yer old boy has been in the care of his grandmother since the tender age of 2 - his mother is a substance abuser, and Mrs B has been taking care of him all his life. The 17- and 11-year-olds lost their mother to cancer in 2016 and were left in the care of their dad. The stress of being a single dad was too much, and they ended up living with Mrs B six years ago.
Mrs B still works and spends most of her small salary on rent. The children are in desperate need of clothes, food and school supplies.
The stress and trauma of losing their mother and being abandoned have caused the 15-year-old to have health issues, and for the past two years, he has struggled with severe seizures. With his medical bills putting further strain on the very low income, the need for basic necessities is increasing daily.
Mrs B works with my daughter, and she has made me aware of the desperate situation her friend is in; my wish as a grandmother is that just for this year, this amazing grandmother can provide her children with a festive season without stress and trauma.
I do not have all the correct words to explain the dire situation, but I know that what my daughter mentioned about their situation has touched my heart deeply. We have been trying throughout the years to assist where we can and will continue to do so; your help will mean the world to my daughter's friend.
Thank you
Mrs Jainni Cronje
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