Families fed in celebration of Mandela Day
As part of the Mandela Day initiative, they decided to lend a helping hand to some charities in the area.
Local organisations have donated blankets, food and clothes to various homes around Pretoria.
Mandolin Hall of Bronberg retirement village together with Pretoria East Rotary Club donated 400 tins of food, 30 knitted and crocheted blankets, hand-knitted jerseys and children’s clothes on Friday.
Resident Doulien Knopjes said the donations were made to give back to the community and to celebrate Mandela Day.
As part of the Mandela Day initiative, they decided to lend a helping hand to some charities in the area.
“Mandela said that each one of us can make a difference. We decided to take this opportunity to make a difference to our own communities and leave a smile on their faces,” said Knopjes.
Knopjes said the aim of the donation drive was to reach out to the needy during these struggling times.
“We know that not everybody is as fortunate as we are during this time, most people lost their jobs. We wanted to reach out to those homes and families that are affected.
“It kept the residents actively busy with a combined project,” she said.
She said everything that was donated to the Rotary Club would later be distributed to different locations.
“Donated blankets will be delivered to a crèche in Bronkhorstspruit called Home for the Needy.
She said the tinned food would go to the Louis Botha and Jacaranda children’s homes and some baby clothes will go to Abba house.
“These are projects where Rotary Club has always been assisting whenever they can and where help is needed.”
She said the organisation wanted to leave something exciting behind for community members to talk about even after a long time.
“We know the donations will gives the residents something to talk about which will make them feel valued and loved even after years,” she said.
“One tin of food might not make a big difference but 400 tins could.”
Knopjes said the national lockdown inspired them to start a donation programme.
She said their social committee used to organise a morning market and one concert per month, but the gathering and fellowships stopped because of the lockdown regulations.
“The residents were looking for something to do. The needlework club, the social committee and all the other committees and clubs were on hold.
“As most of our daily activities were on stand-still, we sat and thought of ways of how to keep busy and help others. Thus the donation drive was born,” said Knopjes.
“One lady suggested on the social WhatsApp group that we should start knitting or crocheting 20x20cm blocks for blankets.
“Many residents chipped in. We have more than 400 blocks to make 30 blankets for crèches, and it was suggested that every household should donate one tin of food for the Mandela Day project.”
Knopjes said the residents who helped to donate consisted of a group of elderly people aged from 60 years, to deep into their 90s.
“The residents of the Bronberg retirement village needs sponsorship to help us get wool at an affordable price and start knitting presents,” said Knopjes.
“Our organisation is planning to knit beanies for Christmas for the children’s home and we hope to next year, start knitting for Mandela Day again and reach more and more communities.”
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