[PHOTOS] Elders wrapped in Mandela Day blankets

The Mug and Tree Community Centre received 67 blankets from 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day to help warm the hearts and bodies of Krugersdorp’s less fortunate elders.

Trudie Naudé, founder and owner of the Centre, invited elders for a cup of soup, cake and some tea amid the colder days.

“We surprised them with the blankets,” she said.

76-year-old Corrie Rankin from Pioneer House said that she was pleasantly surprised.

“This is very nice,” she said while wrapping the hand made blanket around her.

“It’s getting very cold at night and this blanket will definitely help keep me warm.”

The 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day drive started about 18 months ago by Carolyn Steyn, challenged by Zelda le Grange who was Nelson Mandela’s personal assistant.

“Obviously this would be impossible for me to do alone and so a Facebook group was established as a call for help to friends who are interested in helping those less privileged by making a blanket with your own two hands,” explained Steyn.

Arlene Snoek, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day’s West Rand ambassador, said part of the 7 000 blankets that was spread across the lawns of the Union Buildings in Pretoria now ended up at Mug and Tree Community Centre.

On 21 April this year, the initiative at the Union Buildings broke the Guiness World record for the largest hand-knitted blanket.

“The blankets came from all over the country,” Snoek said.

After the record-breaking blanket was dismantled, it became donations toward nominated charity organisations around the country.

As the West Rand ambassador, Snoek chose Naudé’s organisation.

“I started the Centre back in 2006 when a little girl knocked on my door, asking for some food,” Naudé explained.

“That made me decide to open a soup kitchen, but it soon grew much bigger and is now a community centre.”

Mug and Tree Community Centre plans to take part in the next blanket drive seeing that they have many capable knitting hands.