The Krugersdorp News’ editorial team spent an hour and seven minutes making a difference in people’s lives by donating blankets to local NPOs and homeless people.
The Caxton Local Media Joburg West branch has been running a blanket drive since the beginning of June to help families and people in need keep warm this winter. The group does this through an initiative called #CaxtonCares, which is the company’s way of giving back to the community. The FullFlame Life Church and Jane Visser donated blankets to #CaxtonCares with Wayne Swanepoel who donated blankets out of the goodness of his heart.
The News’ first stop was the tented camp situated in Krugersdorp West. These homeless people recently lost their belongings in a veld fire that swept through the camp and the News saw it fit to offer a helping hand by donating blankets. The people from the camp expressed their gratitude after receiving the blankets, deeming it a blessing.
The team then visited The Tower of Life Men’s Shelter to give blankets to the homeless men who seek shelter there daily. At the shelter, the group received a warm welcome from the shelter’s manager, Lebogang Sekonyela, who shared that they were grateful for the blankets as they would help keep the men at the shelter warm. The shelter provides these men with a shower, a plate of hot food, and a bed for only R25 per night.
Straight after the shelter’s visit, the team headed to The Bethany House Trust Child Protection Centre where they donated blankets to the children at the centre. The blankets were warmly received by the chief operating officer Antoinette Jonker and Michelle Germishuizen, the centre manager and senior social worker. Michelle and Antoinette were both appreciative of the blankets and expressed how much of a difference they were going to make in the children’s lives.
The 67-minute initiative on Mandela Day serves as a reminder of the enduring power of collective action and the difference that can be made when people work together for the greater good. By donating blankets, the team celebrated Nelson Mandela’s legacy.
