What an amazing week it was last week culminating in the many Mandela Day initiative that Knit-A-Square took part in, or was associated with, on Friday, 18 July.
I have to mention one of our very special volunteers, Molly, who set a personal goal to make 67 blankets for KAS ahead of Mandela Day using mainly the odd shapes or we have been sent over the last few months. What Molly managed to create was 67 magnificent blankets - nothing short of amazing. AND, she achieved her goal, and delivered to KAS one day ahead of her deadline, this magnificent blanket.
Well done Molly!
We had a number of businesses and volunteer groups assisting KAS by sewing together blankets or knitting/crocheting squares on Friday and will no doubt provide feedback on those various initiatives as and when we get the contributions and photos back.
On Friday, Wendy, Lindi and I joined the staff and children of The Sunshine Centre, as well as many members of the Eldorado Park community, to celebrate the memory of Nelson Mandela. We took blankets, tops, beanies, toys and food for the children based at the centre and added a few extra of each item for Lena, the Principal, to hand to vulnerable children in the area.
The Sunshine Centre looks after children with a variety of special needs.
There was a wonderful atmosphere with people streaming in to offer their time and to donate goods for their “67 minutes for Mandela” initiatives. Some teenagers brought along games and were playing with the children; a group of young ladies were preparing a vegetable garden for the school; and one gentleman, in a wheelchair himself, arrived with four brand new wheelchairs for the children. The list goes on ……
Erin and Hannah visited a new area for KAS – Olievenhoutbosch and distributed to 43 children in this area!
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Here is a little follow-up news paper report on the Sunshine Centre, with a mention for KAS!
As it is a little difficult to read clearly, here is a transcript :
Vulnerable children are always overlooked, said Zain Bululia from the office of the Premier. Volunteers chose to spend their time at the Sunshine Centre in Extension Six on Mandela Day.
Sunshine Centre is a home for disabled children where they are taught to walk and talk. The centre received wheelchairs, prams and books and Lena Cohen, the centre's co-ordinator, said the equipment is greatly appreciated. "We are in great need of aid for our children, this couldn't have come at a better time." "We can't describe how grateful we are," Cohen said.
Bulbulia said that it is important that the needs of vulnerable children are not ignored.
Knit-a-Square gave blankets and hoodies for pupils while the department of agriculture started a veggie garden for the centre.
Volunteers said that they would return to the centre and not only use Mandela Day to give back.
Without the alternatively shaped squares my life would lack a challenge!
Oh Molly, I love to read those words "looking depleted". That means the mountains of blankets are disappearing from your somewhat limited office space and you might have room to move around (or better yet, build another mountain of blankets!). It also means that the team is in high gear with distributions and that the blankets are now wrapped around the children.
Molly, it's just amazing what you do with those odd-shaped squares. It's so wonderful to see your smile and hear your enthusiasm after a Thursday of opening parcels.
Wonderful news and great to hear that others contributed their 67 minutes too. The new wheelchairs is a great gift. Ronda, so nice to know that there are extras for other vulnerable children. Molly it is the most beautiful blanket. Even lovelier for the KASquirks in it.
Well done to Molly, not only for achieving her goal of 67 blankets, but for her patience and fortitude at putting together all those odd sized squares to make such lovely blankets!
Congratulations to all of the KAS team on the success of their Mandela day celebrations and distributions too, as others have said a great way to spend the day.
Fantastic news!
Big high fives to Molly for reaching her magnificent goal! I see she put some good 8 inchers to work to help out in that blanket as well. Surely the fact that no "square" however misshapen is tossed illustrates the deep need over there for some warmth for the children. They so much need our love and encouragement and you wonderful ladies, around the world and in South Africa and on the Net are demonstrating there is indeed a TON of brotherly love and kindness just waiting to be used to help these children.
Super report Ronda, thanks so much!
love what molly has done with the different shaped 'squares'. good on her and its wonderful to also see that nothing goes to waste. we get regular 'rectangles' and 'small squares' that we are saving up in order to turn them into a single blanket rather than sending them to KAS singularly.
Thank Sonja for holding back and being willing to make the rectangles into a complete blanket - it will free up the team's time in SA as these mis-shapes cannot be passed to the wonderful Gogos. The work Molly has done has truly been a labour of love, but is is very time-consuming, and probably, requires much patience and a rather large table!
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