Hospital receives welcome donation for patients

At least 160 patients at Life Flora Hospital have benefited from knitted blankets donated by the 67 Blankets for Mandela organisation.

The foundation started shortly after the death of former president Nelson Mandela in December 2013, and they were celebrating their 10th anniversary of making a difference in communities.

Members of the foundation spend 67 minutes every Mandela Day (18 July) to help someone less fortunate. Even though Mandela Day is only in July, the foundation believes every day should be a Mandela Day.

According to Carolyn Steyn, the founder of the foundation, the 67 signifies the years that Mandela spent fighting for freedom and being of service in the country.

“It signifies spending at least 67 minutes daily working for the community in honour of Mandela’s legacy.

“After Madiba’s passing, his former assistant Zelda Le Grange challenged me to make 67 blankets for Nelson Mandela Day back in 2023. I realised I would need help from friends, so I turned to social media. That’s when I learnt about the power of the hashtag and the extreme power of Nelson Mandela,” she said.

She added that this initiative has reached a global level and it is also recognised by the United Nations. She says that they continue to encourage thousands of active members to crochet or knit blankets and scarves and also demonstrate the meaning of ubuntu.

The initiative has ambassadors in different hotspots in the world, and according to Rob Herring, ambassador for Johannesburg West Rand, there are about 20 people involved in knitting the blankets.

Rob says they do not only donate in hospitals; they also go to schools, informal settlements, orphanages, and other non-profit organisations.

They also visit correctional services to rehabilitate inmates by teaching them how to make blankets for people outside who have been affected by crime.

To be part of the foundation visit their Facebook page or go to their website.