The Moti Cares Foundation reached a significant milestone of 17,000 blankets donated during its winter blanket drive when it reached out to the communities in the south of Johannesburg on Thursday, 18 July in celebration of Mandela Day. The foundation, in partnership with Meals on Wheels Services South Africa, donated 1,000 warm blankets to residents in need at the Momo’s Upliftment Centre in Turfontein.
Mandela Day encourages individuals, communities, businesses, and charitable organisations globally to devote 67 minutes of their day to acts of service, reflecting the 67 years Nelson Mandela dedicated to fighting for social justice. This year, the Moti Cares Foundation chose to mark the occasion by addressing the critical need for warmth among vulnerable people in the Johannesburg area as the months continue to grow colder.
This handover formed part of the broader SOJO Business and Tourism Helping Hands Foundation Mandela Day initiative which, with help from its other partners, handed out 1,000 food parcels containing soup, bread rolls, fresh fruit, and refreshments. Additionally, street showers, hair cutting and grooming, clothing, shoes, access to a medical clinic tent, counselling services, and entertainment were provided.
Zunaid Moti, philanthropist and founder of the Moti Cares Foundation, spoke about the importance of Mandela Day and the spirit of giving that it embodies. “Mandela Day is a strong reminder of our collective responsibility to support those in need, and give what we can to help. By donating these blankets, we hope to provide both physical warmth as well as a sense of hope and community to the residents of Turfontein.
“In these difficult times, there is a growing need among South Africans from every corner of the country. So, events such as these, where so many organisations can come together in solidarity in the fight against poverty, make a greater impact on people’s lives than one may realise. Moti Cares, my family, and I are immensely proud to serve communities such as these.”
Moti Cares is less than 3,000 blankets away from meeting its 20,000-blanket goal for this particular winter drive – a goal it will reach in just two weeks’ time.
The Foundation was established with the aim of making a tangible difference through various charitable initiatives. Over the years, the foundation has provided educational bursaries and school supplies to children from underprivileged backgrounds, sponsored numerous sports and creative arts programmes, and, notably, provided two million meals to communities in KwaZulu-Natal following the 2021 riots that devastated the area.
It’s key partner for this recent Mandela Day project, Meals on Wheels, also has a long history of providing meals and support to vulnerable communities across the country. Their involvement in the blanket drive was a natural extension of their mission to alleviate hunger and provide comfort to those in need.
Through this programme, Moti hopes to inspire others to participate in acts of kindness, in the belief that everyone has the power to make a difference, no matter the size of the gesture.
“President Mandela taught the world how to love and care for those who are facing hardships. Today, myself and the organisations who so gracefully lent their hand to this cause, hope to honour this legacy,” Moti concludes.