Free warmth on the trees

With over 300 warm winter blankets and clothing to share with those who need them most, the Free on a Tree initiative saw a surge of grateful community members picking coats, jackets and blankets from the trees of the Ronnie Bester Park in White River over the weekend.

The initiative, organised by White River local Andrie Pietersen, called for clothes and blankets from the community to hang on benches, rocks, trees and posts around the park.

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Pietersen said the jackets, jerseys and blankets were there, free for anyone who needed them to take home with them, with little notes attached to clothing, asking people to take one item of clothing or blanket, and leave the rest for others who may also need the items.

She said people came out to hang clothing and blankets around the park at around 09:00 on Saturday, with scores of people needing the clothing, quickly making their way around the park, choosing items.

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She said there were three local organisations that were “instrumental to the success”. Pietersen said Feed the Need donated 60 brand-new blankets while the Power of 8000 helped with the marketing of the event and keeping Ronnie Bester clean.

She added that White River Rotary also joined in with many of its members coming to the park on Saturday with bags and arms full of clothing. Pietersen said the clothes and blankets went “very quickly”.

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“It all brought the community closer together,” said Pietersen.

“It was the first time we have done something like this and we will look at doing something similar again,” she said.