Every year about 3 000 babies are abandoned in South Africa. For Mandela Day, Cuddlers wanted to reach out to these babies and the dedicated people who care for them.
For 67 hours Cuddlers encouraged the Facebook community to engage with one of their posts and for each like or share, the nappy manufacturer committed to donating nappies to the Botshabelo Babies Home. The home was opened in 2000 as a response to the growing problem of babies being abandoned in hospitals or unable to be taken care of due to impoverishment.
The home has seen more than 180 babies come through its doors – more than 100 of which have found happy forever homes with loving parents and families. At any given time the Kyalami-based orphanage takes care of 12 to 14 babies who are in need of essential items, which include formula, nappies, groceries and baby-safe hygiene products.
For Mandela Day, Cuddlers wanted to do their part to help the babies who have found themselves in the foster care system and donate as many nappies as possible to the home, in hopes of reducing the costs incurred by the home while taking care for these babies.
The Facebook post for Mandela Day saw a tremendous amount of engagement from the Cuddlers community, receiving 420 shares and 908 likes – resulting in a donation of 1 328 nappies for the Botshabelo Babies Home.
Murray Booth, head of marketing at Cuddlers, was delighted at the amount of support received from the public. “This year we wanted to show our support for the plight of abandoned babies and for those who care for them selflessly. We were inspired by the generosity of the public and decided to more-than-match the engagement by donating 2 718, or 51 packs of nappies to Botshabelo, as well as 160 packs of wipes, but we couldn’t have done this without the support of our Facebook community.”
Makopano Mutloatse, fundraising team member at Botshabelo expressed her gratitude for the donation, “Nappies are one of the most important items we need to look after our babies and this donation will help us do that for a long time.”
The home could still use many donations of baby-care items or financial donations towards medical funds, electricity and other running costs, so do your part and make a meaningful contribution towards a community who needs it.
Details: www.botshabelo.co.za/projects/botshabelo-babies-home/
