Join our winter drive to help beat the chill

[caption id="attachment_36123" align="alignright" width="405"] ALL WRAPPED UP: Herald journalist Alvene du Plessis and her year-old daughter Sarah-Lee have joined the blanket drive, which is the latest initiative in The Herald Together We Can Make a Difference campaign. Picture EUGENE COETZEE[/caption]

AS Nelson Mandela Bay residents brace for a cold winter, The Herald/Weekend Post have embarked on a campaign to get staff and readers to donate warm blankets and clothing to assist the less fortunate.

Since the start of the winter season, Port Elizabeth has experienced some chilly early mornings, with the temperature plummeting to an icy 3°C in Lorraine at 3.30am on Wednesday last week and 1°C in Uitenhage.

Several charities have had people knocking on their doors looking for shelter and blankets, as temperatures drop below freezing in many parts of the province.

Heather Robertson, editor-in chief of The Herald and Weekend Post, said: "We are in the throes of a bitterly cold winter and many charities have reported that people are knocking on their doors for warm clothes, but they don't have enough.

"The staff of The Herald and Weekend Post will donate old and new warm clothes and blankets for those who are less fortunate.

"We urge our readers also to donate warm clothes and blankets."

If you want to help warm away the winter blues, you can drop off your winter warmers in clearly marked boxes before July 9 at Newspaper House, 19 Baakens Street, or one of the participating Postnet stores at The Bridge (Greenacres), Metlife Plaza, Sunridge Village, The Acres, Uitenhage, Walmer and Humerail.

The Herald plans to hand over the donations to deserving charities on Mandela Day, July 18. - Yoliswa Sobuwa