Danville Liggiehuis

General information

For the past 21 years I have decorated my house and garden with over 120 000 Christmas lights and decorations. The lights are switched on from 1 December to 1 January from 19h00 to 23h00. From 6 December, Santa Claus is available for the children to talk to or receive letters. It was these letter that made me decide to do something about the plight in our poverty-stricken community.
These letters and request from children are for meat, school uniforms and even a teddy bear for mommy because she never receives a gift for Christmas. During the first year of my project, we handed out gifts and sweets to approximately 200 children. This was done out of our own pockets. The project initially only targeted our direct surroundings, but has grown substantially and therefor now includes a much larger area and still expanding even more to other locations. People are suffering. Last year we handed out more than 11500 sweets parcels and gifts to children, 950 food parcels to families in need and 450 food parcels, including a sweets hamper, to senior citizens. Today we are handing out food parcels, clothing and blankets throughout the year. It doesn’t matter where you live, some people just hide the suffering a little better than others.
Our project is completely dependent on the public and we would not be able to touch the lives of these people without your support. This project may have been my brain child, but the public has raised it. I have been awarded 5 recognitions for this project:
• Kolonnade/Erdekruik vrou van die jaar
• ATKV, Afrikoon
• Solidariteit, Ster in die gemeenskap
• Rotary foundation, Paul Harris Fellow
• Gauteng Provincial Government, Suksesvolle kersprojek.
Artists such as Steve Hofmeyr, Jacques de Coning, Paul Buckby, Gerrie Pretorius, Freddie Nest, Tommy Oliver, Boe Boe van vetkoekpaleis, Matt Stern from 7de laan and many more have made guest appearances here, in support of the project, to draw attention to the public.
We are not asking for money, but we do need gifts, sticky tape, wrapping paper, sweets. Cold drinks and a lot of non-perishable groceries to keep this caring project alive. We welcome second hand clothing, furniture, curtains, etc. to distribute amongst the less fortunate. Even second hand Christmas decorations are welcome.
There are so many people that beautifully decorate their homes with lights. I tend to make fun by saying that I suffer from a “Peter Pan syndrome”because I will always be a child at heart. In this day time, Christmas revolves around large expenses and elaborate gifts, but our lights are lights with a purpose. This project supplies thousands of children and families with something that they would never have during the festive season. There are so many people that rely on this project that even if it cost us money and it’s a lot of hard work, planning and even “begging” matters, because you have given them hope. Our greatest fear is always that we will hand out to the last of what we have, and there will still be someone waiting with sincere hope and expectation of receiving something, when there is nothing left to give. I thank the Lord that you, the public, have supported this project that for so far we have never had to send a child away empty handed. Our project greatest problem is always the age group 9-12 girls and boys and non-perishable groceries. In the past we have handed them some of the other age groups presents to them. We have only been able to hand out so many food parcels, because it’s all that we had.
Anyone is welcome to come and see the lights and to bring their children to visit Santa Claus for a chat and a photo.
The more people are aware of our project, the more people may be able to help us, to help someone in need. This is what life is all about. People tend to ask why it isn’t going well with them, but never ask what they have done to deserve it when it’s going well.
When life seems too much and you think that you are suffering or if you simply feel unhappy, take all of your problems and pack it into a basket in a row next to everybody’s else’s baskets, you will realize that your own basket because you will realize that your worries are just a drop in the ocean compared to those others.
Thank you kindly for all your prayers and support. On behalf of all these people that received something for Christmas, I thank you from the bottom of my heart…
Brenda van der Merwe