MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mossel Bay residents are reminded to help knit and crochet for the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day project.
Donations of wool are needed urgently as well.
A local group of needlewomen, the Eden KnitWits, are making as many blankets as possible for the project. There are 100 Garden Route people making the blankets for the national project.
Ria Potgieter is on the Eden KnitWits committee and she is coordinating the project. Ria is the ambassador for the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day project in the Garden Route.
Ria says: "There is a great need for wool donations in order to finish the project. Currently the Eden KnitWits are buying wool themselves. At this stage we have about 360 blankets and we would like to have 400 plus."
If you are able to help knit or crochet blankets or donate wool, contact Ria (064 413 1808 or riapotg@gmail.com).
Delighted
Ria is delighted that a man has made three blankets for the project.
Lourens Nel, a Heiderand, Mossel Bay, resident, said: "I don't care what people think about me, making blankets. I'm just one of those people who can't sit still. I have to be busy. I make furniture, trailers, whatever I can find to do. And in the evenings, I can't just sit. My hands have to be busy; that's why I made the blankets."
When Mossel Bay Advertiser got Lourens' number from his wife, Elma, she said: "If he does not answer his phone, it's just because he is always busy, in the garage or in the garden."
Ria said she had received beautiful blankets and she was confident the Mossel Bay exhibition of blankets would be truly exceptional.
Function on 13 May
The blankets will be on show at a function at the town hall on Saturday, 13 May.
On 19 December 2013, shortly after former President Nelson Mandela passed away, his personal assistant Zelda la Grange presented arts and radio celebrity Carolyn Steyn with the challenge of making 67 blankets by Mandela Day (18 July). So Carolyn became the founder of the national project. A former internationally successful actress and supporter of the arts, Carolyn is also a respected humanitarian.
Ria says the 67 Blankets ambassadors from the various regions used to gather in Gauteng each year, but this year Carolyn decided to do a roadshow and visit them.
Ria is extremely pleased Carolyn has included Mossel Bay in the roadshow. "It's a great honour," Ria says.
On 13 May at the town hall, Carolyn will be the guest speaker and Mossel Bay mayor Dirk Kotzé will be in attendance.
Everyone is welcome at the event, which will begin at 10:00. There will be jumping castles and face painting for children.
Everyone welcome
Acclaimed local singer Petronel Baard, pan flautist Meryl Brown, school choirs and dancers will be performing.
Ria emphasises that blankets made in the Garden Route will be distributed locally to those in need.
She requests the help of knitters and crocheters to make the blankets.
The Eden KnitWits will also hand over some blankets to Gift of the Givers. Ria says the representative from Gift of the Givers is in Sedgefield, "so all the blankets will be donated locally".
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