How To Donate Clothing And Blankets
This article explores how we can be more compassionate this winter and provides helpful tips on simple gestures we can make to help those in need this winter season.
04/06/2024
This winter has snuck up on us and hit us with a bang. We have all started changing to our winter sheets, gotten our blankets out of the back of the cupboard, and are dusting off our hot water bottles. For some, though, these luxuries are not available.
South African winters always seem to appear out
of nowhere. One moment, we are enjoying a braai
outside and going for a walk whilst enjoying the
afternoon sun, next thing we know we are huddled
up inside with our blankets and hot chocolate.
Some, however, are huddled around a fire, trying
to keep a source of warmth alive to make it
through the night.
Approximately
18.2
million South Africans live in poverty
conditions. This means that approximately a
third of the country’s population will be
relying on the bare minimum to get them through
this winter. As we cosy up this cold season, let
us consider the ways in which we can lend a
helping hand to those who need it.
Donate clothing and blankets
Clothing and blankets go a long way. Blankets can be bought at Pep, Pick n Pay, and Mr Price Home for approximately R80 to R100, which amounts to 2.5 takeaway cappuccinos. Clothing, on the other hand, does not need to be bought. Start your spring cleaning early and donate clothes that you haven't worn in the past year - it’s one of the quickest, easiest ways that you can help someone stay warm this winter.
Support food banks
Non-perishable food items such as tinned food, tinned soups, and powdered milk goes a long way. They cost anywhere from R20 to R30 and provide someone with a warm and nutritious meal. Looking in the back of your pantry can also prove useful as there may be items that you are not using. Instead of allowing them to become so old that they need to be thrown away, donate them to local shelters.
Volunteer at shelters
Volunteering at
a
shelter can be a rewarding experience. Not
only do you help the needy, but you get the
satisfaction of having contributed to your
community, too. Volunteering also allows you to
meet like-minded people and may even lead to new
friendships. And, by taking young people such as
your children or nieces and nephews along to
volunteer, you teach them a sense of civic
responsibility and selflessness in taking care
of others - qualities that will be valued in
them as they go through life.
There are
a variety of shelters you can volunteer at, from
those that help humans to animal shelters such
as the NSPCA, which provides shelter, food, and
protection for animals. Their mission is to find
new homes and loving owners for these beautiful
animals. Cuddling a new furry friend this winter
might just be the thing your home is missing.
Emergency kits
Stock your car with a
few necessities such as a bottle of water,
tinned soup, a pair of gloves, and a beanie, and
the next time you see someone in need at a robot
or a stop street, you can give them an
‘emergency kit’. Even if you can spare a
sandwich, it can make a big difference in
someone’s day.
One thing to consider is
that help is needed everywhere. From the youth
to the elderly to animals, there is no shortage
of people and animals alike who need our help
this winter. There are already organisations in
place that have done all the heavy lifting and
just need support to help those in need cross
the finish line this winter.
Noteworthy causes
The Amy Foundation is one such
organisation. They support and empower the
youth, specifically those aged 5-35, and create
opportunities for skills development and
education. Our youth are our future, and by
supporting them now, a better and more hopeful
future can be achieved.
Ikamva Labantu
focuses on the elderly, providing them with
support in health, nutrition, cognitive
stimulation, and frail care. They ensure that
your finer years can still be enjoyable by
providing comfort, companionship, and care.
Relate Bracelets, partner to these
noteworthy causes above, provides a platform for
these organisations and many more, and relays
their messages of hope. To date, Relate has
raised R77 204 246 to support communities and
organisations in need. They also sell beautiful
handmade beaded bracelets to raise funds to
support these causes and many more. The
bracelets are made by the seniors of Ikamva
Labantu, refugees, and township youth, all of
whom earn an income from it. By buying one of
their bracelets, you’ll not only be helping to
put food on the table this winter, but giving a
bracelet maker hope and dignity.
As South
Africans, sticking together, helping each other
out, and forming unity will provide the
framework for a better future. According to
Dalit Shekel, CEO of Relate Bracelets, “Unity
and compassion go hand in hand. By being aware
of how you can help others this winter, you
provide the fundamentals of hope and care, and
can feel empowered and inspired through
connection.”
Helping those less fortunate than us need not take a big effort - just one small gesture can make a big difference to someone else.