Crèche Gabrielle gets ready for Mandela Day

Crèche Gabrielle beneficiaries are armed and ready for winter following a warm generous donation of blankets and bennies from the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day initiative in Vlakfontein.

67 Blankets for Mandela Day has embarked on a peace, love, and tolerance road trip to spread warmth and kindness across South Africa.

The organisation intends to travel the country to bring warmth and compassion to those in need during this winter season.

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This initiative saw Crèche Gabrielle receive 120 bennies and blankets to keep the children warn.

According to Patricia Dorner from 67 Blankets for Mandela Day, Crèche Gabrielle was created by an exceptional family from the French community named after their six-year-old daughter who they lost during a family holiday in Namibia.

It was a tragedy but they decided to leave something in her name, so they set up this crèche for orphans and children from broken or extremely poor families.

“The children were really happy, they were a bit shy because the teachers were not there, but they were really happy.

“They were smiling and giggling, they would not take their blankets off. They stayed until the end of the day with the blankets around their little waists,” said Dorner.

The 67 Blankets for Mandela Day initiative kicked off the road trip at George in the Western Cape in April and they plan on making numerous stops until the end of June.

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Founded eleven years ago in support of Nelson Mandela Day, the organisation has evolved into a beacon of hope, rallying volunteers worldwide to knit blankets for the less fortunate.

The founder of 67 Blankets for Mandela Day, Carolyn Steyn, expressed the importance of making personal connections with those in need.

“We are visiting all regions of our beautiful country to distribute blankets to people less fortunate than ourselves,” Steyn noted.

She said this year they wanted to make those personal connections that are vital to them and spend time with organisations and people they support.

“What better way to do that than a good old-fashioned road trip where we personally deliver the blankets across the country we have so lovingly crafted to keep those in need warm throughout the winter months.”

She emphasized that it was about more than handing over blankets for warmth but showing that they care and are fulfilling what the country needs now more than ever.