Members of the SAPS Lowveld Area Women's Network handed over the goods last week to pupils who attend the Phumelela and Rockvale primary schools.
The children were also given soup and bread and were entertained with music played by the police band.
Kaapmuiden's station commissioner Captain Poppy Mahlalela originally approached the Women's Network for help.
She said in the area, many parents were farm workers who could not provide much for their children and often had to get up as early as 3am to get to work.
"Some children don't have grandparents to help look after them before they go to school," she said.
Provincial coordinator of the Women's Network, Captain Busi Moerane said the Women's Network had received donations of bread, food parcels and fruit from business people in Nelspruit.
"We hope to donate something to these schools every year because they are the most needy schools we've come across in the Ehlanzeni region.
"Learners at both schools wore incomplete school uniforms and looked hungry, while others did not even have school uniforms or shoes this winter season,” said Captain Moerane.
The Women's Network was launched in October 2003 as a support service for women working in the police service, who are intent on making an extra contribution to communities, apart from their police duties.
Some of the objectives of the Women's Network include:
· providing a strong support network structure for women employees in the SAPS;
· facilitating career advancements of women through leadership training programmes;
· developing assertive women leaders capable of independent thinking, contributing to quality service delivery;
· market career opportunities for women in all occupational categories and at all levels in the SAPS in an attempt to develop a fully representative workforce; and
· aligning women's network activities to government initiatives with a view to improving the overall quality of women's lives.
They also initiate their own programmes as well as take part in national drives such as the Take a Girl Child to Work Day, last month.
The network also functions at national, provincial and station levels.
Article published courtesy of BuaNews
