UNITED Kingdom-based philanthropist Gibson Brown has given Mabvuku residents something to smile about this festive season after donating groceries to disadvantaged and less-privileged families in the high-density suburb through his foundation.
Other beneficiaries also included health workers at the local clinic.
Beneficiaries of the Gibson Foundation Christmas Cheer include the elderly, orphans and vulnerable children as well as the generally disadvantaged.
Speaking from his UK base, the educationist and philanthropist said giving was in their DNA as Gibson Foundation and they will continue reaching out to the less privileged with support from their funding partners.
“We are very much alive to the challenges that the disadvantaged families continue to face and we are doing all we can to play our part in assisting them,” Brown said.
“As a progressive organisation, we want to play our part in complementing government efforts towards social welfare and we are grateful to the partners that continue to heed our call particularly during this festive season of giving.”
The recent Mabvuku grocery donations covered home basics like maize-meal, cooking oil, rice, soap, salt and sugar and the beneficiaries thanked the Gibson Foundation for the noble gesture.
Lord Gibbo, as Brown is commonly known, said the donation was their way of giving cheer to the less-privileged during the Christmas season.
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“Christmas is all about giving and merry-making and we are happy to play our part in giving cheer to the needy,” he said.
“Zimbabwe is generally going through challenging times and such a scenario calls for all actors including development players to play their hence this donation of groceries from the Gibson Foundation to the Mabvuku people.”
Brown, who was born and raised in Mabvuku also provides educational support to children in the area and has supported the local clinics and schools with grocery and other infrastructure related developments.
“I grew up here and I feel duty-bound to give back to the community hence the continued donations and community development initiatives by the Gibson Brown Foundation,” he said.
“The goal is to reach more people with sustainable projects and support that can change lives and the community at large and we are pushing for more partner support towards that drive.”
One of the beneficiaries Gogo Chitewe thanked Gibson Brown Foundation for the gesture and highlighted the grocery donation is timely.
“Our Christmas was going to be bleak but we thank them for remembering us from faraway UK. May the good Lord bless them,” said Chitewe.
“It takes a lot of character to spare a thought for the less privileged especially for someone who is in far away UK and I just want to thank the organisation’s founder and his partners for this gesture,” said one elderly among the beneficiaries.
“May the dear Lord bless and protect you as you continue giving yourself in service to others.”
The foundation’s representative Retired Major Sydney Musafare Mangwende, who handed over the donations, said the charity drive was part of the organisation’s ongoing outreach programmes.
“We want to continue reaching more lives and we are working with local authorities to identify more beneficiaries,” he said.
“Our hope is to make a lasting difference in the lives of the less privileged. Through such initiatives we will make life better for all.”
