Knitting communities together for Mandela Day
ROSEBANK- Scrfs were tied on trees and lamposts for anyone who needed them to keep warm.
‘I am not lost, if you are cold and need me, please take me.’This message was attached to scarves that were draped on trees from Rosebank to the Nelson Mandela Bridge as part of 67 Blankets for Mandela Day campaign. Four teams were sent out to drape scarves on the trees for whoever needed one to keep warm.
Carolyn Steyn, who headed up the campaign, had posted a challenge to anyone who wanted to knit a scarf on the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day Facebook page. She said the response was absolutely astonishing. “I just simply love the fact that South Africans respond so well to any challenge put in front of them,” she said.
According to Steyn, a total of 2 000 scarves were knitted and about 6 700 blankets were distributed nationally for Mandela Day on 18 July. “People may ask why we did this day before Mandela Day … It was done before because it does not only get cold on Mandela Day but the immediate needs of the community should be addressed on any day and every day – every day should be Mandela Day.”
One recipient of a scarf, Christopher Naku who stands on William Nicol Drive and asks for spare change said, “I feel great. Mandela didn’t separate the rich from the poor, we were one. This shows me that the other people do care about us and want us to be happy too. I have two scarves and my family will be so happy with the scarves.”
Another happy recipient, Codney Ndlovu, a car guard at the Johannesburg Zoo said he felt Mandela would be smiling down from heaven knowing that his people were being looked after. “There were lots of scarves and it was just nice seeing people coming and taking the scarves,” he said.
“People coming from work even took and went, it was like we were one.”
Jabulani Nkosi, a beggar who stands at a traffic light in Parkwood was given a scarf by a campaign member which brought a huge smile to his face. He bowed and said, “Thank you so much, God will bless you.”
Details: Visit the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day Facebook page
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