Gelvenor, a leading textiles manufacturer and fabric engineering company, has donated 200 metres of fabric to the Tshelimnyama Dassenhoek community to be used in a clinic and social/education centre.

“They are doing amazing work in the Dassenhoek community and after seeing their facility and the challenges they face I knew something needed to be done,” said Peter Rasmussen, from City Hope Nation Changers – a City Hill Church programme, who witnessed the poor condition of the church and clinic in the Dassenhoek community.

Peter initiated a project and reached out to companies in the area who would assist him in offering much needed support to the community. Gelvenor answered the call to provide a solution by donating the fabric.

“Our business has been evolving in South Africa since 1965 and we recognise that community involvement has to be part of what you do. We feel privileged that we can be a part of this,” commented Gelvenor CEO Dicky Coetzee.

Canvas and Tent, another member of the South African Technical Textile Cluster (SATTC), sponsored the CMT of the fabric to produce military hip tents and storage bags. The tents were donated to Pastor Leonard Ndlovu who oversees the church and clinic in the community.

“We are incredibly grateful for this wonderful gift,” said Pastor Ndlovu. “Thank you to Gelvenor, Canvas and Tent and Peter and his team for their support”.

Having seen his project come to fruition and realising the inevitable impact it will have on the community, Rasmussen openly showed his gratitude to the Gelvenor team. “I want to say to Gelvenor Textiles, thank you for this incredible blessing to the community. This is a wonderful outcome to the journey we have walked together,” concluded Rasmussen.

www.gelvenor.com