(Above: KZN 67 Blankets Ambassadors
gathered to celebrate Christmas in July and the humanitarian organisation's
annual Secret Scarves Sshh on International Mandela Day. Hundreds of scarves
and beanies were handed over to the Society of St Vincent de Paul to hand to
impoverished people. Pic supplied)
In celebration of Nelson Mandela Day, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day KZN Ambassadors and KnitWits (volunteers) gathered for Christmas in July at the Springside Cafe in Hillcrest on Wednesday July 17.
They were joined by representatives from the St Vincent de Paul Society, who received a colourful donation of scarves and beanies made by volunteers around KZN. The organisation will, in turn, donate these woolly warmers to needy charities they support.
67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day is a humanitarian organisation founded by Knight of the French National Order of Merit recipient, Dame Carolyn Steyn, who is internationally recognised for her contributions to philanthropy, the arts and the media.
(Right. A tower of scarves and beanies from the Springside Café gathering. Pic supplied)
Having celebrated its 10th birthday in January 2024, the movement is made up of volunteers who knit or crochet blankets and squares to be made into blankets for those in need. ‘KnitWits’, as these women and men are affectionately known, work with their own hands to craft beautiful, warming blankets for those who would otherwise be cold during Winter. Scarves and beanies are also warmly welcomed.
Over the past ten years, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day has made and donated over 167,000 blankets to orphanages, residences for the elderly and disabled, schools, flood-stricken and tornado-hit communities, and many more people in dire circumstances.
Every year, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, sets a theme for its annual blanket drive. Past themes have seen KnitWits knitting and crocheting blankets in particular colours to create ‘pixels’ to make up giant picture blankets. Examples include a massive portrait of our late, great President Nelson Mandela, which became the biggest portrait blanket in the world, and the enormous ‘Stronger Together’ Springbok blanket celebrating South Africa’s trophy-winning rugby team. 67 Blankets has also set several Guinness World Records, eg for the world’s long scarf, with individual scarves temporarily sewn together to make up a scarf more than 28 kilometres long.
The theme for 2024 is Peace, Love and More Tolerance, a reflection of hope for South Africa. This theme is particularly apt for an organisation whose aim it is to keep South Africa warmer during the cold winter months. Hand-making thousands of blankets for others less fortunate than themselves, KnitWits imbue their blankets with love for the recipients, hoping for peace and tolerance in the world.
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