Show you care this Mandela Day

NELSON Mandela said “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

In celebration of Mandela Day on 18 July this year, there are a number of community projects where individuals can get involved and do their 67 minutes for Mandela in honour of the former president.

SAINT GILES

THE community can help out by donating items for a very special project to refurbish the canteen facilities for disabled Work Centre employees at Saint Giles this Mandela Day.

Disabled employees make up 76 per cent of the Saint Giles workforce and are themselves recipients of the services and support that Saint Giles provides. As such their physical and emotional well-being is of utmost importance and Saint Giles continually strives to improve their quality of life. The Work Centre was recently extended to accommodate the employment of 30 more people with disabilities from the wider community. At the same time the canteen facilities were extended providing a large, light area within which the employees can take their breaks.

“The employees' dedicated efforts to maintain their production scores makes their breaks in the canteen especially important for their physical and emotional well-being. The purpose of this project is to refurbish the canteen to make it a safer, more comfortable and an aesthetic environment in which the disabled employees can eat, rest, and socialise during their breaks,” said Vaneshiri Pillay from Saint Giles.

The project is being facilitated by Margaret Scharein, a UNISA Social Work student carrying out her Honours practicum at Saint Giles, in collaboration with disabled Work Centre employees and staff of Saint Giles.

To date, Bidvest Panalpina Logistics (BPL) has donated 10 tables and 30 chairs to the project and will be supplying lunch to the disabled employees on Mandela Day. Platinum Painting Contractors is donating labour and expertise to ensure that the painting of the canteen is carried out safely and professionally.

“We are currently looking for further donations so that together we can make the world a better place for our disabled Work Centre employees,” said Vaneshiri.

Items that are required are white paint for walls, coloured paint for cupboards and shelves, non-slip flooring such as vinyl or epoxy, vinyl for the wall area, a microwave oven, fridge and kettle, ten sugar bowls with attached lids, two large stainless steel tea pots, ten plastic table cloths, two large noticeboards, a double stainless steel sink, storage cupboard and work surface, a plumbing service to install sink and taps, brackets for shelving and a painted mural.

Contact Vaneshiri on 031 337 4404 if you can help.

HOLAH

IF you can spare 67 minutes of your time to help on Mandela Day, HOLAH Baby House is reaching out and asking for support.

Likhon iThemba has a list of needs with which they could really use some help. At HOLAH baby house there are some upgrades and face-lifts to the property that need to be addressed, and the community can help with product donations and giving love to the precious souls HOLAH takes care of.

At the Hop Shop, the community can help out with changes, upgrades and cleaning and sorting at the shop. Collections of donations are always needed.

Likhon iThemba's Bowl of Plenty (BOP) project is looking for volunteers to collect food items, woolly hats and blankets for the creches it supports, as well as going along to help with the distribution.

If you are keen to get stuck in, email Kim Lorrance-Brown: kim@likhonithemba.co.za or contact 083 232 5501.

THE SUNFLOWER FUND/SANBS

DURBAN North Blood Donor Centre is hosting a special blood drive on Tuesday, 18 July from 8am to 6pm where the public is encouraged to dedicate their 67 minutes for Mandela Day to donating blood.

The Sunflower Fund will co-host the drive and recruit donors who would be committed to, when matched with a patient, donating life-saving blood stem cells to someone suffering from Leukaemia or other blood related disorders.

In order to be a blood donor, one has to be 16 years or older, weigh over 50kg, be in good health and lead a sexually safe lifestyle.

Durban North Blood Donor Centre is situated at Kensington Square, 53 Kensington Drive Durban North. Contact 031 563 1493 or visit www.sanbs.org.za.