Joburg East full of generosity on Mandela Day
This year’s theme was “Action against poverty”.
The Joburg East area was buzzing on Mandela Day with different activities happening in the community.
This year’s theme was “Action against poverty”.
67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day along with the Mandela Foundation and City of Johannesburg partnered with local businesses and organisations to help the most vulnerable of society.
The beneficiaries were De Wetshof Retirement Village and Strathyre Girls Home.
Carolyn Steyn, founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, said, “67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day is honoured to be joining hands with the executive mayor Herman Mashaba and the City of Johannesburg to help improve facilities at De Wetshof Retirement Village this Mandela Day. This facility is a most worthwhile cause to support in our community.”
Various projects were spearheaded by the City, including the establishment of a communal food garden with support from Starke Ayres, Checkers Hyper, Malanseuns Pleasure Plants, Plantland Garden Centre and Culterra.
Starke Ayres offered to assist the village with training in how to care for the food garden.
The Coffee Collection handed out delicious coffee and doughnuts. Checkers spoiled the village with various goodie bags, and Malanseuns planted Nelson Mandela roses, fruit trees, vegetables and herbs.
The local United Ethiopian Community Association donated R100 000 to furthering projects and maintenance at De Wetshof Retirement Village.
Keurboom
Another home that benefited from Mandela Day was Cansa Keurboom Care Home.
The patients received donations from African Rainbow Minerals and Rand Ridge Mall Hands of Hope group.
African Rainbow minerals donated 80 care packs to the patients at the home and Hands of Hope donated 47 quilts.
Natalie Swart from Hands of Hope said they were happy to be able to bring some colour into the home.
“We are not an NGO or company but a group of people with a common interest, and Hands of Hope is about giving back. We chose the home because we know what the patients go through during the journey. These quilts that have a personal message from people can make someone smile,” said Swart.
Jeppe Girls
Jeppe Girls played their part again this year by celebrating Madiba’s birthday with 777 handmade blankets.
The girls displayed the blankets in front of the school.
From 2015 to 2018 Jeppe Girls has made and donated 2 134 blankets and 3 000 scarves.
They have distributed blankets to children in Cotlands pre-schools in the Cleveland Informal Settlement, Hillbrow and Protea North, and have visited Vosloorus and a number of homes for the aged and children in our community.
They will do the same again with the blankets that are displayed this year.
