Project “Operation Freeze-N-Hot” was an idea conceived during a fellowship discussion with the Rotarian parents of a youth exchange student from Port Shepstone, South Africa. At an earlier meeting of the Rotary Club of Gosford North a report was presented on our annual “Coats for Kids” project whereby we collect used coats from within the community, clean them and distribute them to the needy “kids” within our community just prior to winter.
Our visitors were amazed at the generosity of our people and the quantity and quality of used clothing that appeared to be available for re-use.
On returning to South Africa, our Port Shepstone visitor followed up on the needs of his neighbouring Country, Lesotho. With an aspiration to become involved in a tri-national project “Operation Freeze-N-Hot” was born.
The Aussies would transport warm clothing to South Africa, the Sheppies would load up their vehicles with non-perishable food stuffs and blankets while the Lesotho Rotarians would identify the areas of critical need and communicate our visit to the remote communities.
Port Shepstone Toyota came on board and loaned us some 4WD vehicles to get the goods into the hills of Lesotho.
Subsequent to the initiation of the project the Rotary Club of Gosford North and the Rotary Club of Port Shepstone have formalised a sister club relationship. A further acknowledgement of the project and great Rotary Fellowship enjoyed during the past three years came when the Rotary Club of Port Shepstone entered into a sister club relationship in June this year with the Rotary Club of Maloti.
The King of Lesotho attended the ceremony and pledged his government’s support for Project “Operation Freeze-N-Hot” offering to provide a helicopter to ensure the deliveries can get to his people in the most remote parts of Lesotho.
Lesotho is a sovereign state that received independence from England in 1966. It is a mountainous country, land locked within the sub continent of Southern Africa. The population is in excess of 2.2M. Remote villages are situated at between 1000m and 4000m above sea level and freeze over in winter.
Those in remote areas are self-subsistent. Poverty, hunger and AIDS are rife. There is a desperate need every year for warm clothing and easily transportable, nutritious food, like powdered soup.
Unemployment is in the order of 50%. Agriculture is the major sector of employment within the country yet it is subject to unpredictable weather conditions. Some are fortunate to be employed in the mines of South Africa however retrenchments from this industry are rising.
Each year, distribution is carried at several villages with approx 4000 people benefiting. The distribution teams unpack the goods laying the clothing out in categories to suit children, ladies and gents and the stacking the foods and blankets to ensure an orderly distribution. The teams provide crowd control and restrict the quantity taken by each individual as they are permitted to select from the piles of goods laid out.
The project is well advanced and organised having been delivered for the past three years. The supply of used clothing from the local community in Australia is endless. There is no foreseeable decline for the need for the goods in Lesotho.
The Rotary Club of Gosford North his now seeking assistance for funding to support additional shipments.
