Winter Woolly Week doubles-up in the Eastern Cape in 2013

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Warm hearts in the Eastern Cape have seen contributions to the annual Algoa FM Winter Woolly Week campaign nearly double year-on-year.
Corporates such as Caltex, GMSA and the Port Elizabeth International Airport (ACSA) contributed more than R300 000 in cash to the project, according to Algoa FM marketing manager Toinette Koumpan.
The public also responded to the project. Almost R10 000 was donated at intersection collections that took place on Friday, 7 June, in Port Elizabeth and East London when Algoa FM presenters hit the cold morning air from 06h30-08h00.
This is above and beyond the donations in kind of blankets and warm clothing donated throughout the month of June from the public. All donations made in a region benefit organisations in that specific region.
“Community Chest is the beneficiary to the Winter Woolly Week project in the Eastern Cape. They steer it on the ground while we drive it on-air and this is a project very close to the hearts of the entire Algoa FM team”, says Koumpan.
Around 130 blankets and 510 black refuge bags filled to the brim with clothes were donated by Algoa FM listeners.
Community Chest used some of the funds to purchase additional blankets, mattresses, as well as 70 pairs of shoes.
“The best of all is that the donations are still streaming in from the public and we are still busy collecting all the boxes from the different locations.
“Last year we had just under R200 000 in donations from corporates and had collected less than R5000 from the public at the intersection collections”, says PRO for Community Chest, Colette Theron.
“We were faced with a huge challenge this year when we took the entire Eastern Cape under our wing but with the enormous success of winter woolly week this year, we could reach out and support more desperate people in need than before”, says Theron.
Community Chest was able to assist our entire charity database with clothing, blankets, mattresses, food and shoes. They assist 100 registered organisations in the Eastern Cape and they were even able to assist 15 charities/projects that are not part of their database with mattresses, blankets, bedding, clothing and food parcels.
“This is just what we have done up to now and our mission is still far from complete. We are planning to supply more day care centres and homes for the destitute with mattresses, food parcels, bedding and clothing. We will also visit all the old age homes and hand out warm blankets”, says Theron.
In addition to this, Community Chest will be on 24 hours standby for any disasters or damage where people will need assistance.
“This year we have also seen growth in the Garden Route as we were able to make a total of 8 refuge bags filled with clothes to FAMSA. We will also make a small cash donation to 3 schools namely; Redlands Primary School in Knysna, Touwsranten Primary School in George and Isalathiso Primary School in Mossel Bay”, says Koumpan.
“We are confident that this initiative will continue to grow in both the Eastern Cape and the Garden Route as we will continue to persist every year to grow the campaign and give back to the community in an even bigger way”.