Some of the senior citizens at the Oakhaven Old Age Home in Heideveld will be a little bit warmer this winter after they received blankets from Heideveld High School.
The blanket initiative formed part of the school’s thanksgiving ceremony where they also recognised the work of those who run extramural activities at the school.
This included the school’s outreach programme called the Peace Club Heideveld Outreach Group.
Since 2011, the school community and residents have donated baskets of toiletries to various old age homes in Cape Town.
Last year, for Mandela Day, they donated baby blankets, which they knitted in 67 days, to Tygerberg Hospital, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, and various orphanages.
In March this year, the school started collecting wool for the blankets for Oakhaven Old Age Home.
Teacher Marlene Douries said that this year the school wanted to do something different.
“I suggested that we knit. I didn’t know how but I was taught to knit. We started collecting R2 from each pupil at the school to buy wool and managed to raise R1 000. We bought wool and needles and teachers and pupils literally sat in their classes during break, knitting, and teaching other kids how to knit,” said Ms Douries.
On Thursday August 4, 122 elderly members at the Oakhaven received their blankets.
Nobulele Nkompela, nursing manager at the Oakhaven, said the blankets would be put to good use in winter. “It is good to know that people have taken us into their hearts. The old people will be very grateful,” said Ms Nkompela.
Heideveld High School principal, William Meck, said it is important to thank the individuals involved so that others can be encouraged to also take part in such initiatives.
