The babies and preschoolers at Little Angels crèche have been wrapped in love and warmth by Theodor Herzl School pupils and friends, who knitted them blankets and teddy bears to keep them snug when they nap on the floor of their single classroom in Walmer township.
The woolen items were accepted on their behalf by philanthropist Glenda Brunette, who actively assists nine crèches in the area through her Walmer Angel Project. Theodor Herzl Primary School teacher Chantal Klackers said the blankets had been “handcrafted with love”.
“Every opportunity to help others reinforces the ethos of kindness that we strive to instill in our pupils. Our knitting club was started this year by Rebecca Kilbride, 12, in Grade 6, who wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of disadvantaged children. Some of our Theodor knitters are as young as 8. They meet weekly and churn out bright squares from donated bits of wool. Grannies, parents, staff members and friends also contribute to our project, and all the squares are simply crocheted together to make cozy little blankets,” she said.
“The colourful blankets are perfect for babies or for knee rugs for the elderly. The knitting club delivered a pile of blankets to the Thand’usana Babies Safe Home in Newton Park earlier this year.”
Mrs Brunette said the Walmer Angel Project’s focus now was on keeping the young children warm in the rainy weather. Basic first aid and hygiene related items – from plasters and antiseptic lotion to toilet paper and toothpaste – are also high on her wish list.
“There are 38 children at Little Angels crèche, aged between 3 months and 5 years, who play, learn and sleep in this one classroom. People may wonder what they can do to help, but these young learners at Theodor Herzl have shown that just one knitted square makes a difference! What is important is to keep the blessings rolling.”
Brunette also runs a soup kitchen in Walmer, which is currently feeding more than 80 people. Her son, Brendan Brunette, has committed R20 000 per year for the next 10 years to the Walmer Angel Project, through his fresh produce distribution company, Rocket Seed.
Pictured here with Glenda Brunette, centre, and some of the colourful hand-crafted blankets they donated to Little Angel crèche are Theodor Herzl Primary School knitters, from left, Fatima Jappie, Becky Kilbride (who founded the school’s Knitting Club especially to make blankets for needy children), Erin Charlewood, Britney Meyers, Sophie von Ruben, Siphesihle Lekhelebani and Montana Barwick. In front are Erin Harrington, left, and Caitlin Reid.
