The Learning Vine Tutor Centre in Table View received R10 000 worth of toys and stationery from a radio station.
The gift forms part of the station’s winter wish programme designed to bring relief and comfort to those in need.
The Learning Vine tutor centre is a school for pupils from Grades R to 12 with learning, behavioural and other social issues.
The centre has recently fallen on hard times and faced the possibility of closing its doors.
At the moment, there are children having to work in the dark, because the electricity has been switched off due to non-payment.
Principal Cindy van den Heuvel said they battle to pay their R50 000 rent every a month as well as utility bills.
“This school is not only for children with special needs, but also for those who come from abusive environments, or whose parents can’t afford school fees. Many of the students come from as far as Gugulethu daily,” said Ms Van den Heuvel.
Earlier this month the Smile 90.4FM Winter Wish team delivered boxes of stationery and toys to the centre.
Some of the goodies included play dough, art paper, calculators, crayons, bean bags and sensory rubber spike balls.
“The stationery and the art supplies are fantastic, and all the sensory toys, because that’s one of the things that we are wanting to do for our children on the autism spectrum, is to set up a proper sensory room.
“A lot of the children suffer from sensory overload, so we are wanting them to be able to play in a safe environment with the right toys.
“Many of these children would sadly be on the streets if we didn’t help them,” said Ms Van den Heuvel.
