The Salwarys’ community project’s efforts to bring festive joy to children in Mitchell’s Plain have continued with a handover to children at the Lentegeur Library on Wednesday.
The initiative has taken place annually since 1990 (“Pharmacists’ giving nature”, People’s Post, 12 December 2017).
This year, in addition to sweet treats, snacks and toys, 200 leather jackets were also distributed to the children.
“The initiative is important to me as I see great joy on the faces of the children when handing out the toys to them. That makes me very happy,” says Rasheda Salwary, wife of Mohamed Ikbal Salwary, owner of the Lentegeur Pharmacy in Merrydale
Avenue.
“[We] have been at Lentegeur Pharmacy for almost 35 years and I have seen the struggle of our community in the area. My heart goes out to them and we always try and assist wherever and whenever there is a need. I cannot see myself stopping doing this. I love to put other people’s needs before myself,” Rasheda told People’s Post previously.
“The event went off well and I handed out 200 leather jackets to the children, also sweets and treats and toys. [There were] 110 toys sponsored by the Toy Run and 150 packs with 11 hair goods accessories donated by A.K. Wholesalers in Rylands. I also want to thank Winners Supermarket for the sweets and biscuits donated and a big thank you to Paradise for Kids crèche in Lentegeur who assisted in organising other crèches in the area to attend,” she says.