How will you be donating your 67 minutes this Mandela Day?
And have you considered looking beyond the 67 minutes, to make your donation about more than your time? Perhaps you could have a good winter clear-out, and donate clothes or other items to those less fortunate in Cape Town. Or maybe you have a skill you could share with an organisation, whether just for an hour’s consultation or – for extra stars – on a regular basis.
However you choose to donate this Mandela Day, we want to make it as easy as possible. If you’d prefer to donate cash, please note that each of the superb organisations below urgently need funds, too.
Donate your time
Assist with food gardens or plant a tree
Assist in food gardens and sustainability initiatives with Food and Trees for Africa. Visit Willow Feather Farm in Pretoria and get involved in sustainable efforts with tree planting and more.
Roll up your sleeves at feeding schemes and packing drives
Ladles of Love is looking for as many volunteers as possible in Joburg (and Cape Town) to make sandwiches, fill buckets with items, and pack nutrition boxes (find out more here). The record they could break is the ‘Highest Number of Volunteers Spending 67 Minutes to Grow Children in Need’.
You could also join one of the huge food packing events with FoodForwardSA. As they say, it’s “more than providing meals. It’s about dignity, respect, and creating the kind of world we all want to live in.”
Help uplift our youth
Give 67 minutes of your time to help out at Boys & Girls Club in Soweto or Kids Haven in Benoni with interactive activities with the children and upliftment of the venues (painting, gardening etc).
Support Pups, Kitties and Other Animals
Help out at animal shelters like SPCA, Woodrock, and Tears – with general upkeep, cuddles, dog walking, admin and even painting a mural (at Woodrock).
Donate your skills
Use your field of speciality
Sizanani helps high school learners from Alexandra township in Johannesburg to succeed in their studies and gain access to universities through the provision of mentors, career information and bursaries. There are several different ways to help, including short term/day options. Provide a workshop about your industry, tutoring, participate in a Life Orientation class, become a mentor and more.
HubOfHope Kitchens need volunteers to help with professional renovations, painting and organisation of their spaces, which have been pivotal in feeding thousands weekly and fostering community spirit.
Use your FITNESS – It’s a skill too!
Join the Mandela Day Walk/Run taking place on 18 and 19 July, kicking off at the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Sandton. Race fees are R100 for 5 kilometres, R150 for 10 kilometres and R200 for 21 kilometres.
Donate clothes, food and other items
Vintage with Love accepts gently worn clothes and accessories from people in and around Cape Town and Joburg, and re-sells them at stores in both cities. The profits go to literacy charities such as Realema Teacher Intern Programme, Community Assisting Schools, Thandulwazi Maths and Science Academy and the Click Foundation.
The Johannesburg Children’s Home needs food, toiletries, clothes and more. Find out more about what they need more urgently here.
67 Blankets needs wool, hooks and needles (or you can also knit and donate a blanket!).
Bring gently worn children’s shoes to the shoes drive for township children, organised by Charity Begins with Me. To get involved, whatsapp Stephen on 072 5933 866.
There are many more!
