Rand Aid knits for Mandela

Three Rand Aid complexes celebrated Mandela Day by seeing which complex could knit the most squares in the allotted time.

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The Thornhill Manor women were clear winners.

They completed 2 631 squares before the competition began and 46 squares on the day, with some knitters making up to five squares in their 67 minutes.

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Knitters continued throughout the day and the final number of squares contributed by Thornhill Manor added up to about 3 000.

On July 24, the nearly 4000 squares from all three complexes were handed to a representative from 67 Blankets for Mandela Day. Residents from Elphin Lodge and Ron Smith Care Centre, as well as staff and volunteers, gathered in the hall to knit or crochet for 67 minutes.

Apart from the inter-complex competition, an in-house contest was also held to see who could complete the most squares.

Some chatted away happily, whilst others concentrated wholeheartedly on the task before them and knitted furiously. To sustain their energy coffee, tea and snacks were offered around halfway through the proceedings.

The care centre and retirement village contributed 334 squares. At Inyoni Creek gas fires were lit in the dining room area to keep the knitters ‘toasty’.

“It was a great initiative enjoyed by all,” said deputy complex manager, Marinda Looyen.

Inyoni Creek had 13 knitters on the day but also completed squares in the run-up to Mandela Day and was able to contribute 440 squares.

At the winning complex, Thornhill Manor, 44 women met in the community centre.

“You could feel the buzz and excitement of the morning and the eagerness to get started,” said deputy complex manager, Jackie Scott.

The event was overseen by the organiser of The Knit & Knatter club, Joan Hepburn, who encouraged as many woman as possible to knit beforehand and to participate on the day.

The women also brought along some home-baked goods to enjoy with their tea afterwards.

Zabeth Zühlsdorff, from Rand Aid’s GM Services and Advance Division, congratulated the women on a successful morning and the good deed of helping those less fortunate, and for ensuring that more people keep warmer this winter.