Soul Outreach shelter receives blankets and warm goodies

The Soul Outreach and Upliftment Centre received a large donation of blankets, beanies, mittens and bed socks from Heather Bendeman on behalf of the Springs Cro-Knitters group on Tuesday.

Cro-Knitters sent 12 blankets, and Bendeman added beanies and mittens to the mix. Two large bags of bed socks in various sizes, donated by anonymous benefactors to the Brakpan Herald for use by Sip ’n Cro, were also dropped off.

Soul Outreach is hard at work in the community, providing a warm bed, meal and shower for those in need at a minimal fee while also providing transportation, life coaching and help for homeless individuals to get back on their feet.

They also partnered with a preschool, where parents using the shelter can leave their children while they work at getting back on their feet. The children are driven to and from the school and provided with clothes, food, and proper early childhood development education.

Soul had great success with this model, with many of its shelter residents able to get jobs and move out. However, it relies on donations to keep functioning at this high standard.

They welcomed the blanket donation, supplemented by Expert Store, who donated 10 blankets. These blankets will cover all 22 beds in the shelter.

They also rely heavily on food donations and have a few regular benefactors providing boxes of fruit or vegetables. They trade excess groceries for other necessities with local businesses to ensure their beneficiaries receive well-rounded meals.

Sip ’n Crochet is the monthly meet-up of crocheters at Zonskyn Tea Garden in Springs, started by Bendeman. Here, ladies gather to crochet granny squares for blankets that go to various charities.

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Bendeman was also an instructor for Cro-Knitters, a Springs-based club for crocheters and knitters who meet weekly on Mondays to make items for charity.

While Cro-Knitters is continuing, Bendeman has retired from the group to spend more time with her husband.

Sip ’n Cro is continuing as usual, however, and the group desperately needs wool donations, especially now that winter has arrived and there is a need for blankets and accessories.

Soul and Sip ‘n Cro are partnering on this matter, and yarn donations dropped off at Soul’s premises on 157 Hamilton Avenue will go to Sip ’n Cro, who will then crochet the yarn into blankets and accessories for the shelter and other charities the group supports.

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Yarn donations can also be made directly to Bendeman. Sip ‘n Cro welcomes any yarn, but the preference is the Charity brand double knit wool, which helps ensure the blankets are uniform in texture and size.

“A huge thank you to these companies and people for donating blankets and cash Quantum Steel, Presto Cleaners, Expert Store, the Catholic Church Brakpan and ‘Oom Chris’ from Dalview,” said Martina Stickling, the centre director.

Special thanks also went to the Brakpan Herald for its continued support of the shelter. Those wanting to donate to Soul Outreach can contact Stickling on 081 745 7182 or admin@souloutreach.co.za

If you want to donate to Sip ‘n Cro or join the group, call Bendeman on 083 580 4756.