MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A local group of needlewomen are making as many blankets as possible for the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day project.
There are 100 people making the blankets currently, as part of the Eden KnitWits group. Ria Potgieter is on the Eden KnitWits committee and she is co-ordinating the project. Ria is the ambassador for the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day project in the Garden Route. She said that two months ago there were 80 in the Eden KnitWits group. Now there are 100.
Eden KnitWits is now in its ninth year.
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.
'Great honour'
Ria is extremely pleased Carolyn has included Mossel Bay in the roadshow, because Carolyn is visiting mainly cities. "It's a great honour," Ria says.
Event
For this reason, an event has been scheduled for 13 May at the Mossel Bay Town Hall, where Carolyn will be the guest speaker and Mossel Bay mayor Dirk Kotzé will be in attendance. Here the blankets made by locals will be displayed.
Everyone is welcome at the event, which will begin at 10:00. There will be jumping castles and face painting for children.
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.
"We have 180 blankets so far and we want to reach the target of 300."
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".
If you are able to help knit or crochet squares or create whole blankets, contact Ria (064 413 1808 or riapotg@gmail.com).
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
