Local partnership turns a dinner shift into support for children with cancer
Volunteers from a West Rand charity swapped their usual outreach roles for serving aprons on the evening of 29 July as part of a fundraising collaboration at Panarottis Clearwater in Roodepoort. The event was organised by the Everyday Kindness Charity Foundation in partnership with Cupcakes of Hope, and the restaurant agreed to donate 10% of the night’s turnover to the cancer support charity.
The initiative aimed to raise both funds and awareness for children living with cancer and to encourage residents to support National Cupcake Day, scheduled for 26 September. Volunteers acted as waiters during the evening, introducing diners to the partnership and helping to generate donations through ordinary restaurant trade.
“Many people want to help but don’t know where to start. We act as a bridge between people who want to make a difference and organisations that genuinely need assistance,” said Everyday Kindness founder Sanay Ramsammy.
Ramsammy said the foundation’s work is rooted in a lifelong passion for community service that began during law school. The cause has personal resonance: family members are living with cancer, and she has also lost people she knew to the disease, which she said motivates the foundation’s involvement with cancer-focused charities.
Community volunteers and practical impact
The fundraising evening also doubled as a way to promote National Cupcake Day, when volunteers from Cupcakes of Hope will sell cupcakes at more than 80 shopping malls across South Africa. In the meantime, the Clearwater dinner demonstrated how local businesses and grassroots groups can combine resources to help affected families.
- Event: Fundraising evening at Panarottis Clearwater, Roodepoort — 29 July
- Partners: Everyday Kindness Charity Foundation and Cupcakes of Hope
- Donation pledged: 10% of Panarottis Clearwater’s turnover for the night
- National Cupcake Day: 26 September — nationwide cupcake sales at shopping centres
A roster of volunteers was photographed assisting during the event. Those named in reports include Deepta Vallabh, Deven Motiram, Zinhle Smuts, Taegon Venketsamy, Sanay Ramsammy, Layaan Sayed, Calynn Leeuw, Savannah Sibley, Katie van Zyl, Olwethu Moreku, Lebogang Mohibidu, Deetya Vallabh and Jacqueline Govender. The images show volunteers learning the restaurant’s customer service system and engaging with diners to highlight the cause.
| Organisation | Role |
|---|---|
| Everyday Kindness Charity Foundation | Co‑ordinator, volunteer recruitment and public outreach |
| Cupcakes of Hope | Beneficiary and promoter of National Cupcake Day |
| Panarottis Clearwater | Host restaurant; donated 10% of turnover for the evening |
Organisers say events like this serve two purposes: they raise funds and they build public confidence in how to support legitimate charities. Ramsammy highlighted that Everyday Kindness acts as a conduit, connecting people who want to help with established community projects and verified non‑profit partners.
For Roodepoort residents, the partnership offers a low‑barrier way to contribute: dine at participating venues during designated fundraising evenings, buy cupcakes on National Cupcake Day, or reach out to local foundations to find verified volunteer opportunities. The combined effort of local volunteers, businesses and national campaigns underscores how small acts of public goodwill can support families confronting cancer in the West Rand.
Organisers have encouraged anyone wanting to get involved in the lead‑up to 26 September to contact Cupcakes of Hope or Everyday Kindness directly for details on volunteer sites and mall locations where cupcakes will be sold.
