With its breathtaking views of the Hemel and Aarde valley, La Vierge in Hermanus was a perfect setting for our second Lunch for Literacy in 2024. This lunch was held in loving memory of our dedicated Ambassador Sue Sacks whose spirit and commitment to giving back to her community is something we continue to carry with us in everything we do.
Despite the chilly conditions, the guests arrived with bags full of gently worn items and a splash of pink in their outfits, creating a sea of colour, warmth and unity. What a stunning sight it was! The bubbles and wine were flowing, and the delicious three-course meal filled our bellies. We were also treated to the most entertaining fashion show which highlighted the stunning Calypso boutique ranges. Our beautiful models strutted their stuff with grace and professionalism and the guests loved every minute.
As always, we had unbelievable prizes for our auction, raffle and lucky draw, all thanks to our sponsors, whose belief in our mission and unwavering support continues to amaze us. Your trust and generosity have made a significant impact on our ability to make a difference in the lives of others. We are grateful for your partnership and look forward to continuing our work together to create positive change.
We were also blown away with the generosity of our guests, who decided to auction off their raffle prizes allowing us to raise more funds for the Imibala trust. For us, this truly reflected the immense kindness and love that was so present in the room and we are once again so grateful to be surrounded by a community of exceptional women.
A highlight of the day was the inspiring message from our guest
speaker, Sarah Tomkins, founder of Samara lodge. Sarah conveyed her deep passion for conservation and entertained us with stories from her unique experiences opening this remote and untouched sanctuary in the Karoo Reserve. Sarah’s underlying message was that it just takes one person to start making a difference and so much change can happen! This message resonates hugely with us here at Vintage with Love where we believe small acts of kindness can go a long way in making a difference in someone’s life. One person’s preloved item can provide new life and joy to another’s closet. One person’s new purchase can keep a child in a reading scheme for a week. Most importantly one small act of kindness, be it donating your clothes, shopping at Vintage, attending an event, bidding on an auction, buying a raffle ticket or volunteering your time can lead to ripples of change in the lives of so many South African children.
We are also so proud to have been able to raise funds at this event for the Imibala education trust. Imibala runs a variety of programmes that make substantial and measurable differences in the lives of the children. They are working tirelessly to provide children with opportunities to learn and grow and explore their world in a variety of mediums. Imibala has been doing incredible work in Somerset West and is now opening a new chapter in Hermanus. We look forward to watching them grow from strength to strength and wish them all the best in their newest venture.
Once again, we reflect on each and every individual act of kindness that allows us to make an impact in so many children’s lives. Thank you to everyone who attended, donated and supported this wonderful cause. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special." May we continue to work on educating the youth of South Africa one act of kindness at a time.
With love,
Debbie Smuts
Comments