Sandton-based goodwill initiative KnitWits4TheNeedy collaborated with IXM Africa on Nelson Mandela Day to spend 67 minutes supplying local recyclers with warm scarves and beanies, as well as soup, bread and hotdogs. The 67 Minutes for Nelson Mandela Day initiative hosted by KnitWits4TheNeedy was held on July 18 at the Rosebank Union Church.
“This initiative is really for Nelson Mandela Day,” said KnitWits4TheNeedy representative Greta Collier. “We chose this day to look out for our neighbours – the recyclers right outside our church.”
Collier, who also serves as an ambassador for the 67Blankets non-profit, said KnitWits4TheNeedy meets every Saturday at the church, where they produce beautiful, crocheted items such as scarves and beanies.
Associate Pastor Ndaba Mazabane, who has been with the Rosebank Union Church for 17 years, elaborates on how the recyclers came to be regarded as neighbours.
“Look, the recyclers we call our neighbours because we look after them, I’d say, on a daily basis,” Mazabane said. “We provide, for example, coffee, tea, and soups on a weekly basis. We also offer them showers, for them just to shower, at our facilities.”
KnitWits4TheNeedy were joined for their 67 Minutes for Nelson Mandela Day by IXM Africa, who supplied warm soup, hotdogs and loaves of bread graciously sponsored by Blue Ribbon.
“This is really one of the first Nelson Mandela days that IXM is participating in,” said Retha Venter, who was coordinating the IXM portion of the drive. “With the help of Greta, we took hands with the church: We brought some scarves, we brought some scarves, we brought some beanies; we’re obviously going to do some soup,”
According to Venter, Blue Ribbon donated 50 loaves of bread through a colleague’s husband.
“So, all of that is going to be part of feeding the recycler community,” Venter said. “We hope to build from this.”
Recycler Tseko Khacha, who has been a recycler since 2007, expressed his gratitude by sharing his story about how he became a recycler.
“You see, jobs are scarce, and one cannot just sit at home,” Khacha said. “One has to eat, so I do everything I can.”
Khacha recycles many things: including plastic, white paper, metals, and steel items he sources.
For all enquiries please contact Greta Collier on 084 520 5200.
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