Mandela Day is a global call to action for citizens of the world to take up the challenge and follow in the formidable footsteps of our former president. This day inspires individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, by building a global movement for good by dedicating and volunteering just 67 minutes of their time to any good, charitable cause.
What contribution will you be making this Mandela day?
Here are some ideas of how you can get involved:
Book drive for Prestwich Primary School
The Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village and partners will be collecting books for Prestwich Primary School in Green Point. Cardboard collection bins will be placed around the Cape Quarter into which anyone can drop a book or books. The Bay Bookshop is offering 20% off for any book purchased to fill the collection box in their store. Donors are asked to drop off these books by Wednesday 16 July 2014 at 5pm. The books will then be sorted and packaged to be handed over to the school.
Donate or volunteer at The Haven Night Shelter
The Haven Night Shelter Welfare Organisation provides temporary shelter, physical care, social welfare and family re-unification services to adult homeless persons. For people who want to volunteer their time in the early evening, the CTICC has donated food to the night shelter, which will be served at Dinner time on 18 July 2014. Volunteers are more than welcome to assist in this activity and if you would like to donate your time or other goods to help destitute people, you can contact the Have Night Shelter at (021) 425 4700 to find out more about what they and their clients need.
Stop Hunger Now at Canal Walk Shopping Centre
Members of the public are invited to join Sop Hunger Now on the final Meals in Memory event at the Canal Walk Food Court on July 18 2014. Volunteers can spend 67 minutes packaging meals that will go to needy preschools around the Western Cape. There are 67 minutes sessions running throughout the day from 9am to 9pm. The 250 000 meals packaged will feed 1 700 learners three meals a week during term time. To allow the organisers to control numbers, if you would like to volunteer, please sign-up online or by contacting (021) 705 6278.
Volunteer with Operation Smile South Africa
Operation Smile South Africa provides free surgeries to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities for children around the globe. This year Operation Smile are seeking volunteers to help with an awareness campaign taking place across eight shopping malls (Eikestad Mall, The Pavilion, Cresta, Blue Route, Irene Village Mall, Riverside, Westgate and Garden Route Mall.)
Volunteers are needed to: Create a buzz, presence and Excitement; Face Painting; Be present at the tables to hand out flyers to shoppers and passer’s by; Sign up as many MySchool Applications and Sign Up sheets as possible; Manage the puzzle board either adding a piece to the puzzle as a result of having completed a MySchool application form; signing up as a volunteer; providing a donation; Treasure hunt; Tell people about the Woolies Sustainability bags- for every bag purchased Operation Smile receives R10. and the 94.7 cycle race; Decorate dolls that are currently very blank with personality and colour to be gifted to our children; Come up with competition and prizes being a Smile coffee table book (to be announced at the end of the day);
It’s going to be fun and volunteers will receive a T-shirt for all their hard work and effort. For more information contact (021) 447 3608.
Following Mandela Day members of the public can assist in a collection drive to collect mirrors/ toothbrushes/ toothpaste/ soap/ crayons/ notebooks/ sharpeners/ adult patient gowns.
Support Monte Rosa Home
Monte Rosa is an accessible 111 bed home for the aged situated in Gardens, Contact 021 423 8173/4 to find out how you can help them support elderly and frail people in their care.
Donate to the SA Children’s Home
The SA Children’s home in Ivanhoe Street, Gardens cares for children by providing a secure, friendly, homely environment for its family of 44 boys and girls. The home needs the following:
Toiletries (body lotion; face wash; roll-on for girls & boys; tissues; shampoo, conditioner)
Boys and girls leisure socks ages 6-18 years; New takkies girls and boys ages 6-18 years, Boys clothes ages 6-18 years, 10 single sleeping bags for camps; School bags.
Household needs: Replacement of six single mattresses, single bed fitted and flat sheets, 20 pillows.
Kitchen goods: Muffin pans, dishcloths, non-perishable foods for holidays, food parcels such as spaghetti and meatballs, beans, pilchards, coffee, tea and sugar.
Garden: Compost.
To donate any of the items above contact (021) 423 1328.
The Big Issue
For those passing through the CID areas don’t forget to grab the Big Issue magazine. The Big Issue magazines is a non-profit nongovernmental organisation (NGO) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) that publishes a monthly magazine, creating jobs for unemployed, homeless and socially excluded adults. Through the Social Development Programme, vendors are supported with vocational, life and business skills training and guidance counselling. Purchase the magazine at R20 of which R11 profit is made by the sale vendors.
The Earthchild Project:
Earthchild Project is a non-profit organisation which operates at disadvantaged primary schools in the Western Cape. The project works with both children and teachers with programmes focusing on the environment health/ wellness and life skills at Sakumlandela in Khayelitsha and Zerilda Park Primary in Lavender Hill. The project aims to inspire a new generation of healthy, confident and conscious young leaders. For more information on how you can help, contact Janna Kretzmar on 083 409 9185.
Nazareth House
Nazareth House is a Non-Profit-Organisation (NPO) that aims to provide a loving, stable and secure home environment for abandoned, neglected, disabled and orphaned children. The home also provides a resting place for children with terminal conditions, who are unable to return home as well as a care for the elderly. Nazareth House is in need of General items (single sheets, single/ double duvet covers, single duvet inners, single mattress covers, standard waterproof pillow cases, wheelchair covers, foam blocks, weighted blanket, sitting scale for the elderly, chest drawers, hand basins, comfortable chairs and table cloths) and Occupational Therapy items (High chairs, paddling pools, storage boxes, mini trampoline, inkpad for stamps, toys, airex mats – high density foam, baby gyms – free standing mobiles, side lyers, standing frames, scooter boards and rollers/ wedges).
Alternatively, stationary items such as A4 books, A4 hard cover books, A4 paper, calculators, prestik, pritt and sellotape and toiletries such as disposable nappies, nappy rash cream, baby shampoo/ oil/ lotion/milk/ cereal, adult nappies and toilet paper are always needed and never goes to waste. Kids Pyjamas, clothing and shoes are also a necessity. If you can donate any of the above items, contact (021) 461 1635.
FoodBank South Africa will be hosting a Mandela Day hamper packing day from 10am to 3pm at their warehouse in Epping. Inviting you, your Company and staff members to join Bryan Habana and Siba Mtongana , let’s see how many hampers you can pack and lives you can touch in 67 minutes. For more information call 021 531 4811 or e-mail info@foodbank.org.za and register your team soonest to avoid disappointment.
Here are a list of other charity organisations which you could volunteer or donate goods to:
Straatwerk– 021 930 8055
The Homestead– 021 419 9763
The Salvation Army (Booth Memorial) – 021 465 4846
The Carpenters Shop– 021-461 5508
Cape Town Society for the Blind (CTSB)– 021 448 4302
You can also contact the City of Cape Town’s toll-free number, 0800 872 201, to access more information on how to donate to charitable organisations. Remember to give responsibly.
Let us know what you are doing on Mandela Day and send us your photographs to share atinfo@gpokcid.co.za