Animals in need across Johannesburg receive a helping hand this winter
JOBURG – The Winter Blanket Drive is looking to share the love with dogs in all corners of Gauteng this winter.
Animals deserve just as much love as people do in winter, and some animal lovers are making sure they get it.
Danny Flax is one such animal lover who is bringing love to animals through his initiative, Winter Blanket Drive. The success of this initiative has enjoyed significant growth over the past years, with many animals kept warm since its inception.
“The Winter Blanket Drive initiative was started in 2015 by myself and a friend. We are both big animal lovers. Running the blanket drive turned out to be like running a business. At the time I was a student at Wits Business School, which I think really helped with expanding the project,” said Flax.
Read: For the animals
The initiative aims to collect blankets, food and towels which are distributed to township animals and various animal shelters, in addition to collecting donations for various uses.
“Some people prefer to donate financially and the money is used to buy those goods. Others donate various secondhand items which are given to shelters that have secondhand shops. The goods can then be sold by the shelters to raise funds to cover expenses.”
Photo: Supplied
The friends started the drive, not only to provide stray animals and animals in shelters with warm blankets during winter months but also to assist the animal shelters that do not receive financial help.
To date, the initiative has helped an impressive number of animals in need.
“About 1 000 animals have benefitted. Last year we raised about 400 blankets together with other donations.”
They have assisted SPCAs across Gauteng and have a collection point at Caphiine Restaurant at Huddle Park Golf Course, but still encourages people to initiate their own collections, after which they can contact the Winter Blanket Drive which will be able to assist with the distribution of the collected items.
Details: Find AnimalWinterBlanketDrive on Facebook
Edited by Stacey Woensdregt
