Heart-warming July 18 campaign
TWO weeks ago a shortage of clean blankets due to a laundry staff strike at Livingstone Hospital left patients without warm bedding.
On Mandela Day this year, Project Sparkle, in collaboration with volunteer organisation Just1Hr and The Herald, will focus on making sure there is a sustainable blanket bank so patients can stay warm while they recover.
Sparkle on Mandela Day project leader Trevor Jennings said they hoped to get residents to spend 60 minutes involved in a project to improve the state of public health in the Bay, and the rest of the time – seven minutes – focusing on their own health.
“Sparkle on Mandela Day is an initiative to encourage all the citizens of Nelson Mandela Bay to work together on a common theme on July 18.”
Project Sparkle was initiated last year with Schalk Fourie and Alan Barr at the helm. Several volunteers joined the project to restore the outpatient clinics at Port Elizabeth’s Provincial Hospital.
Jennings said the Just1HR Campaign was also excited to join the Sparkle campaign.The Port Elizabeth Red Cross has also signed up to coordinate a volunteer project to supply schools with wellstocked first aid kits.
The Igazi Foundation has also joined Sparkle on Mandela Day and will be launching a special “Giving Life” project with the South African National Blood Services at Baywest Mall on Mandela Day, founding member Cole Cameron said.
“Potential blood and bone marrow donors will be able to use their 67 minutes to get more information and to sign up as a donor at the shopping centre on the day,” he said.
Other initiatives that volunteers can join include:
ý Getting involved with staff, patients and projects at one of the of 54 clinics in Nelson Mandela Bay;
ý Assisting with health education programmes;
ý Helping with the health needs of the elderly at old age homes;
ý Assisting with the health needs of children in children’s homes;
If you want to know how you can get involved email Estelle Ellis on ellise@timesmedia.co.za or phone (041) 504 7455.