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This week has been a little quieter than the last few and was a great opportunity to gather ourselves, list all that needs to be done, get on with some more sorting at the office and ensure that we are staying on track !

The new office is coming along nicely and we are pleased to report that we now have so much space that we are able to sort each of the items into sizes and ensure that we can easily get to everything.  This makes packing for the various distributions a breeze!  (When we have finished sorting and labeling we will be sure to take photos so that you can see what we have been up to).

We have been able to assist many of our loyal friends again this week, who, because of your generosity, are helping so many orphaned and vulnerable children.

• We delivered more blankets packs for Tuki in Soweto, and look forward to yet another distribution alongside her in the very near future.
• Sr Susan called to say that she enjoyed the best Mandela Day ever as she had been able to assist so many tiny new born babies with beanies and tops at the Baragwanath Hospital.  We will continue to support her and took through some more small tops and beanies for her yesterday.  Wandi has also been approached by another hospital in Soweto with the same requirement and we believe we will be able to supply them, too.
• Pastor Mathew – an interesting, gently spoken man who enquired about Knit-a-Square after watching over the KASvan for me in the parking lot of a local shopping centre. He is a pastor from the DRC, forced to work as a parking guard in South Africa.  He lives in Hillbrow, near the city centre, a desolate place where many street-dwellers may be found, some of them small children.  Pastor Mathew ministers to many in the area and I promised to supply him with a few blankets, beanies and jerseys to distribute as he preaches and offers consolation.
• Twelve bags are packed and ready for delivery to Port Elizabeth and then onward to Port Alfred for orphaned and vulnerable children in the area, under the care of Terri Stander. For the second year running, Fawn of Coastland Sales, PE, will organise transport free of charge.

Yesterday we visited Nancefield in Soweto and although we have visited this day care centre before, each time it is in answer to an appeal for a fresh intake of new children.  We always look forward to meeting with Lindiwe who runs this school and does such a great job of it.  The Day Care is housed in what used to be a boxing gym belonging to South Africa’s very own Flyweight Champion, “Baby Jake” Matlala.  It is a large, safe, indoor area for the children, but very cold because of concrete flooring and the brick and plastered walls.  So, the children were grateful for the warm blankets, tops and beanies we took them and the day care mothers were thrilled with the stationery supplies and food.  Many of the children had colds and runny noses, so hopefully our (your) contribution will have them feeling warmer and better … soon !

Wandi, Ronda and Lindi with the children at Nancefield.

Something that always amazes me at these schools is how these little ones have learnt to share.  There was one small piece of playground equipment at this school, but they crammed into it like little sardines and took it in turns to make sure everyone was included.  We took through a large, knitted ball which the children loved and it did not take them long to start up a somewhat chaotic indoor soccer match.  I can just imagine mothers around the world yelling – “stop playing with the ball inside the house” … but not in this case!

We are expecting a full house of volunteers today and just as well, because the mailroom is packed.  We have parcels from Australia, the UK, the USA, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, Germany, France the Netherlands, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada and even Saudi Arabia waiting to be opened.

I am headed off to Cape Town on Monday and will be returning to Johannesburg on Friday, 9 August.  But, no sunning on the beach for me !  Not only is it cold and wet in the Cape at this time of the year, but I will be looking after my three young grandchildren while their mum and dad go over to Italy!  Wendy will continue to hold the KAS fort while I am away and she will post a report for you each week.

Enjoy this week’s photographs…..