Warming SA’s elderly in the name of Madiba!
67 Blankets, an international movement, visited Noah's Ark in Randfontein to hand over blankets to the elderly.
A total of 70 hand-knitted blankets were donated by the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day team on Wednesday, 19 June. The recipients were elderly residents who are members of the Noah’s Ark Re Ema Mmogo organisation
Jaco Lotter, an ambassador of the organisation, said, “The blankets were made with love and given to those who really need them. We have about 15 000 people in South Africa who make these blankets for people who are living on the streets, children in orphanages and residents of old age homes to bring warmth to them.”
He added that 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day was founded three years ago by Carolyn Steyn in response to Zelda la Grange’s challenge to knit 67 blankets for Nelson Mandela Day. The NPO has grown its donation from 67 blankets to 670 blankets, to a world record breaking 27 000 blankets all donated to those in need.
“In the process 67 Blankets has claimed the Guinness World Record for “Largest Crochet Blanket in the World” in 2015. India made a bid for the title and briefly took it out of South Africa’s hands, but then we won it again in 2016 with a blanket measuring over 17 000 square metres.
“Throughout the years people from all walks of life, including prisoners and school learners pour care and compassion into their knitting, stitching the country together one stitch at a time. 67 Blankets has grown into an international movement, with KnitWits for Madiba in many countries donating blankets in the name of Madiba,” Jaco explained.
