GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The boisterous bunch of 23 women comprising the Frolicking Ladies and Eden Knitwits played host to speakers from the Garden Route SPCA.
The ladies made donations to the SPCA and collected cash donations amounting to R664.50, gratefully accepted by guest speaker Gerda Groenewald and Lynette Nel, manager and treasurer of the Garden Route SPCA.
Gerda advised that the GRSPCA consists of two very active branches, one in George and the other in Mossel Bay.
They strive to teach communities to care and respect animals not only at homes, but on farms and in the wild. In order to achieve this, inspectors constantly inspect facilities that keep animals - from abattoirs to sale yards, pet shops to security companies, to ensure animals are receiving the care they deserve.
Groenewald explained that SPCA inspectors and the educational team are very active in educating owners about animal care, through visits to schools and the SPCA's Community Carers outreach programme.
A huge challenge facing the SPCA is to motivate dog and cat owners to sterilise their animals.
The communities are called upon not to breed, but to adopt a pet.
The SPCA is always grateful for any form of donation, from containers for food, to blankets, pillows, clothing, unwanted household goods, to animal feed, kitty litter and so on.
The community is encouraged to get a MySchool Card. It costs nothing, and you'll help animals every time you swipe the card at any participating store and other participating stores.
Be sure to nominate the Garden Route SPCA as the beneficiary. The website is www.myschool.co.za or you can download the app from the Apple store or Google play to sign up online.
Alternatively, contact the SPCA to obtain an application form.
Marilyn Collins
Join the club
Frolicking Ladies is a small group of amazing ladies who come together once a month. It was born from the fact that the lockdown brought to the fore just how many lonely people there are and the importance for everyone to have friends, family and neighbours as a support structure.
"This is not a bare and share forum; we do not want to know your personal business, it is purely a way of caring and supporting people in the community. Newcomers to the area are very welcome," explains Marilyn Collins of the group.
Eden Knitwits was borne from a Frolicking Ladies' meeting in May 2021, following a visit from Jennifer Joubert, of the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day organisation.
She told the ladies about the Secret Scarf Mission, a project whereby scarves are hung out on lamp poles, over fences and handed to those in need of warmth on a specific day during the winter.
A request was put out to the local community and to friends and family of the ladies during the first week of June 2021 to knit, crochet, loom or sew scarves and beanies. In a matter of 10 weeks the community produced just under 1 000 scarves and beanies.
The call for 2022 is to produce 2022 scarves, beanies, fingerless gloves and bed socks. The appeal is for 500 of each for children aged one to five, children aged six to 12, and for men and women.
The deadline for donations is 15 June 2022.
This, however, cannot be achieved without heartfelt donations of wool/yarn from the public.
For more information contact, Jennifer Joubert (072 827 3301) or Marilyn Collins (084 513 4122).
The Frolicking Ladies and Eden Knitwits at their gathering.
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