Winter drive brings warmth to vulnerable Thembisa families

Winter brings the added challenge of keeping children and loved ones warm without having the resources to meet their basic needs.

It was this reality that inspired Thulakanyo Dza Vhathu NPO to launch its Winter Donation Drive in July 2024 to collect and distribute polar fleece blankets to vulnerable community members.

The initiative focuses particularly on children and families who may struggle to afford adequate winter necessities.

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For founder Nonhlanhla Maphangula, the project is about more than providing a blanket.

“Community work should respond to the real needs people face, and during winter, something as basic as a warm blanket can make an enormous difference,” she said.

“To date, we have distributed approximately 40 polar fleece blankets through our Winter Donation Drive. Each of those 40 blankets represents an individual or family that we were able to reach with a small gesture of warmth and compassion.”

Maphangula said that the blankets represent an opportunity to make someone’s winter more bearable.

“We hope to continue growing the initiative so that we can reach even more vulnerable people in the community,” she said.

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The organisation’s most recent distribution saw 40 polar fleece blankets handed to children and other community members identified as needing assistance.

Maphangula said one of the most memorable aspects of the initiative was seeing the beneficiaries’ reactions.

“What stood out was not necessarily the material value of the donation, but the appreciation and happiness that came with it,” she said.

She explained that beneficiaries were identified through the organisation’s community networks and its understanding of the circumstances facing vulnerable families and children in the areas where it operates.

“We looked particularly at children and families who experience socioeconomic challenges and may struggle to afford necessities during winter,” Maphangula said.

“Our criteria were centred on need and vulnerability rather than personal connections. We wanted to ensure that the assistance reached people who genuinely needed it, especially those who may not have adequate blankets or other resources to keep warm.”

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For Maphangula, the long-term goal extends beyond individual donation drives.

“At the end of the day, I want to contribute to building a community where people do not feel forgotten or abandoned when they are going through difficult times,” she said.

“My biggest goal is to create a culture where young people, families, businesses and community leaders understand that we all have a role to play in improving the lives of others.”

Running community initiatives does, however, come with challenges, particularly when resources are limited or the need exceeds the assistance available.

Maphangula said there were times when requests for support went unanswered, or the scale of the challenges facing communities felt overwhelming.

“What has kept me going is remembering why we started in the first place. When you see someone who genuinely needs help, you realise that giving up is not really an option,” she said.

“I have also learned that you cannot wait until you have everything before you start making a difference. You start with what you have, and you build from there.”

She said the support of community members, donors and others who believe in the organisation’s work had also helped sustain its initiatives.

“Every successful initiative reminds us that perseverance matters and that one person’s contribution can inspire another,” she said.

Reflecting on the work, Maphangula said the rewards often came from seeing the difference even a small act of kindness could make.

“At the end of the day, I feel grateful and humbled. Community work can be exhausting, but when I reflect on the people we have been able to assist, the tiredness becomes worthwhile,” she said.

“There is something deeply fulfilling about knowing that your actions have made someone’s day a little easier.”

She said the organisation did not undertake its work for recognition, but because it believed in community and the importance of helping others.

“I do not believe that we do this work because we expect recognition. We do it because we believe in humanity and because we understand that any of us could find ourselves in a position where we need someone else to extend a helping hand,” Maphangula said.

“For me, Thembisa is not just a place where we conduct projects. It is a community of people with hopes, struggles and dreams. If Thulakanyo Dza Vhathu can continue playing even a small role in bringing warmth, dignity and hope to that community, then I will consider the work worthwhile.”