WELCOME TO UNCLE BEN'S DEN
Uncle Ben's Den is committed to provide a safe and comfortable environment for those 60 and older. We are dedicated to ensure Uncle Ben's Den is a safe haven for seniors in need of shelter and assistance.
Uncle Ben's Den is an NPO Herberg where the down-winged find rest and the body, soul and spirit are cared for.
Ben and Sharon de Lange
Uncle Ben’s Den Uncle Ben’s Den was founded in 1990 by Ben and Sharon de Lange, after they had both lost their jobs. They were residing in Daspoort in the western regions of Pretoria at the time. As believers in Jesus Christ, they were touched by the needs of the homeless and destitute senior citizens.
This led them to make their own properties available to accommodate these needy people. The ministry grew exponentially and they eventually had to be registered as an NPO in 2007 under the name of B and S Care Centre.
The founder, Ben de Lange , died in 2016 and a year later his wife Sharon de Lange, retired and her daughter, Ronel van Dyk, took over as manager. In the 32 years that Uncle Ben’s Den has cared for the disadvantaged and homeless, the spectrum of caring has escalated in such a manner, that not only are the daily needs of the people seen to, attention is now given to various conditions like Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s, Schizophrenia, Bi-polar, Diabetes 1 and 2, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer patients, paraplegics, amputees, mental illness, HIV positives and the deaf and blind.
The need
In South Africa, one out of every three senior citizens above the age of 65 lives in an uncertain economic situation. According to a recent study it was found that older women are more liable to be victims of poverty and abuse, and added to this is the need for residences for the aged, which has risen to sixty percent during the last two years.
There are various reasons for these trends, being: Families reject elderly members that show signs of Alzheimer’s or Dementia. The unlawful appropriation of elderly family members’ SASSA grant, which causes the elder to become needy.
Their families in hospitals to look after themselves leave elderly people that show signs of any mental problems. Elderly people are easy targets for scam artists and criminals. The changing economic situation in the country has a negative influence on the elderly. Diseases that lead to the elderly not being able to take care of themselves anymore. The lack of planning for retirement and medical care.
Like Family
A larger problem These trends are not restricted to the elderly. There has also been a forty percent increase in homeless people in the last year. The immense increase of needy elderly and homeless people has caused Uncle Ben’s Den to expand so as to be able to meet the growing need.
The ministry is presently using three houses that accommodate elderly and homeless people, and there are some plans to acquire another five properties to fulfill the need. At present, one hundred and sixty-five needy people are being attended to. Because of a lack of accommodation, there are eight couples and five children living in Wendy houses.
Like family, every resident at Uncle Ben’s Den is treated like a family member, and with the spiritual care of every resident, the following requirements are also met: Three meals per day. Laundry service. Transport to hospitals and clinics.
A carer who assists with showering, dressing and house cleaning. Nappies for the elderly and disabled. Toiletries for those whose families cannot afford to provide them. Wound care for those with wounds. Haircuts every month. Church services on Sundays and Bible Studies on Thursdays. Counseling for those that need it. Palliative care. Death assistance. Porter services. Access to water and electricity. Assistance with applications for SASSA (pensioners and disabled)
The Care
To care for one hundred and sixty-five residents on a daily basis, the following is needed: 10kg Maize meal, 7.5kg Sugar, 24 l Milk , 15kg Meat/Chicken, 7kg Rice, 30kg bag of Potatoes, 20kg Mix Vegetables, one crate of tomatoes, ten heads of lettuce, seven cucumbers and 2 kg onions. For lunch 45 Loaves of bread, 1kg Apricot Jam and four 500g margarine tubs.
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The monthly expenditure of Uncle Ben’s Den is for Water and electricity accounts for five properties. Propane gas for the kitchen as well as for the gas geysers of the homes. Toiletries for those who need them. Medicine and wound care materials and GP visits after hours.
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Cleaning agents. Salaries for the carers and staff. Petrol for the vehicles. Food cost for each day. Maintenance of the buildings and vehicles. Nappies for the elderly and disabled. Telkom accounts for daily calls.
2023 Projects
Our current projects include the purchase of five new properties of which three houses are already being leased. An application for a loan from the bank to be able to buy the three leased houses, is in play. This is so that permanent use of these houses will be assured.
The upgrade and furnishing of the properties that are being bought, so that forty extra homeless people can be accommodated. The replacement of beds for the residents.
Golf Day on 27 October 2023; All funds collected will go to Uncle Ben’s Den to be used for the ever growing needs out there.
Want to make a difference?
Uncle Ben’s Den invites you to partner with us, so that together, we can address the ever increasing needs of the elderly, disabled and homeless people. Donations of food, clothes and other items can be left at the office, and financial contributions can be deposited. by clicking on the YOCO icon.
With a donation of R100 it will contribute to:
Contribution to toiletries
Three meals for one resident a day.
Ten snoepie vouchers.
Get in Touch
+27 (0) 12 379 2515