Have a heart this Valentines Day and spread the love! <3

 

Spreading the luuurve baby!

It’s less than two weeks away from Valentines Day so why not take a little bit of time to let cupid’s arrow help you to spread the love in your community.

Whether you are single, or have someone special in your life, you can take this opportunity to make Valentines day about more than just red roses and chocolate.

Grab your loved one, or a group of single friends and make plans to have a heart on February 14th.

Some great ways to spread the love

• Call a nearby childrens home and ask for a list of kids names including gender and age. Buy them “anonymous” Valentines cards and Valentines gift such as boxes of heart chocolates or jewellery for girls, or cologne or other toiletries such as hair gel for boys. Arrange with the home to have the gifts distributed to the kids from “secret admirers” and give their little egos a real boost.

 

 

• Contact your local old age home and organise a Valentines breakfast or lunch for the elderly. If you really wanted to go all out, you could arrange to take them out on “group dates” to a cosy restaurant on this special day as way to remind these special members of society that they are still loved

 

• Visit a hospice or similar organisation caring for terminally ill patients bringing chocolates, red streamers and heart shaped balloons to decorate their rooms to spread the love and add a little bit of joy to the hearts of those who are scared and alone.

 

• Instead of buying your loved one a new watch or pair of shoes, adopt a pet from the SPCA or animal shelter. Not only will you be giving your special someone a special little someone, but you will also be saving an innocent animal from being put down.

 

• Instead of going for a Valentines lunch, call the local shelter or animal rescue organisation and ask how you and your partner can volunteer to help for the day. Cleaning penguins or playing with puppies can make a real unforgettable date that will remind you and your partner of the real meaning of love and affection.

 

If you have any more ideas or suggestions, let me know and we can grow the list together!

Have a fabulous Valentines day and enjoy spreading the love (“,) x

Become a mentor – Big Brother Big Sister South Africa

Big Brother Big Sister South Africa is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping children at risk, between the ages of 6 & 18 years. It is a mentoring programme that matches youth in need with carefully selected and trained adult volunteers in one to one relationships that help them maximize their potential.

 

They will be celebrating their ANNUAL AWARDS DAY in November with a a small event for all community mentoring matches to celebrate the mentors and mentees graduating after their one year commitment.

 

They are appealing to you to assist us!

 

Anyone interested in assisting in making this day special can do so by donating the any of the following items:

• Gifts for teenagers: stationery, toiletries, music CDs.
• Sponsorships of platters, juices, fruit, snacks etc.
• Sponsorship of drumming and other fun games/activities,
• Gifts/ Vouchers to thank Mentors or all their efforts.

 

Please help them to make the day as special as possible!!!

 

To assist, or for more information about the mentorship program and to find out how by volunteering just one hour a week, you can influence a child’s life forever give them hope for a better future visit their website , email makeadifference@bbbssa.org.za or contact them via telephone on +27 (0)21 685 4467.

Fill a shoebox for an underprivileged child this festive season

  

The Kidz2Kidz Santa Shoebox Project has a list of 5000 underprivileged children in the Western Cape and now need people like you and me to help fill them.

The concept is simple – you choose how many children you want to create shoe boxes for, request names from Kidz2Kidz. They will supply you with names and ages of kids you can fill boxes for.

This is a great opportunity to get your kids, friends, family and colleagues involved in the community

 

HOW TO PACK YOUR SHOEBOX:

1. Find an empty medium-size shoebox.
Wrap the lid and box separately in wrapping paper or decorate the lid and box using paint, drawings, clippings from magazines etc. creating a “keep sake” box and at the same time minimizing paper waste from unwrapping the boxes.

2. Label your box.
Stick the label on the outside of the lid – top right hand corner. Add sticky tape to ensure the label is secure. Take care to complete the required information in full.

3. Fill the box.
Use the gift ideas list for inspiration to fill your Santa Shoebox with a variety of age/gender appropriate gifts for your child. Please do not include items specified above.

4. Close the box.
Please use string, raffia or any other re-useable material to close and secure the lid on the box.

 

GIFT IDEAS

All items should be new & age appropriate Please include items from each category
TOYS something to love

Soft toy, tennis ball, finger puppet, yo-yo, building blocks, trucks and cars, doll, dress-up clothes etc.

EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES something to do

Felt pens, pens, pencil sharpener, rubber, coloring book, notepad, picture/puzzle book, pencil case, stickers etc.

 

HYGIENE ITEMS something to use

Toothbrush & toothpaste, bar of wrapped soap & wash cloth, hairbrush, comb, hair clips, roll-on deodorant, talcum powder etc.

 

CLOTHING ITEMS something to wear

T-shirt, shorts, dress, pajamas, etc. Can include as an extra – gloves, scarf, sunglasses, cap, hat, bangles, necklaces, clip-on earrings, make-up or hair accessories etc.

 

SUGAR AND SPICE something to eat

Sweets (sell by date to be at least March of the following year – preferably softer sweets – wine gums, sours etc.
 BABY BOX something for the youngest

Barrier cream/talcum powder, baby soap, item of clothing, bath towel/baby blanket, soft toy, toy/rattle.

 

WHEN & WHERE TO DROP YOUR BOX OFF?

CAPE TOWN area: 20 & 21 October 2008

09h00- 18h00 both days

NG Kerksaal, 55 Kloof St , Cape Town.

 

(Directly across the road from the Lifestyles on Kloof Centre Engen Garage right next door. Look out for Deli 55. Entrance to the parking area to the right of the Deli)

 

Please contact Irenè Pieters on to request your names:

Irenè Pieters
Co-ordinator Kidz2Kidz Santa Shoebox Project
021 461 7744 / 083 280 5528
pieters@intekom.co.za
www.kidz2kidz.co.za

Teach your child the art of giving

Donate Your Extra Winter Woolies to Help Someone Else Wake up Warm

Got spare winter woolies?

 

From new or nearly new blankets, hot water bottles, socks, vests, beanies, scarves, jackets, jerseys, gloves to anything you feel will keep someone warm – grab them all, put them in a box and take them to your local Dis-Chem pharmacy where they will distributed to those in need.

 

Ask your family, friends, and collegues to do the same. Offer to collect all the goodies and drop them off at your local Dis-Chem on their behalf – everyone has something they can donate.

 

The Dis-Chem Foundation with the help of 5FM and 3Talk with Noeleen once again takes the first step with Wake up Warm to give the gift of warmth this winter with the Dis-Chem Foundation’s annual collection of everything and anything to give warmth this winter.
 
Dump bins will be placed in all Dis-Chem stores nationally for you to drop your winter woolies and leave a bit of warm cheer May 25th until the end of July 2008. Every week the Dis-Chem Foundation will collect, sort and distribute all items to charities throughout South Africa.

 

 In 2007 the Dis-Chem Foundation assisted over 750 000 people from over 60 different charities and organizations ranging from street children, hospitals, abandoned babies, the neglected and destitute aged, the disabled, the homeless and more.

 

Stuck for ideas on what to donate?

 

- Blankets

- Slippers

- Ponchos

- Gloves

- Scarves

- Fluffy Toys

 - Warm Clothes

 

Download the store locations excel spreadsheet or visit The Dis-Chem Store finder.

9 Crucial Safety Tips – What to do in an Emergency

Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or a loved one’s life.

Because of recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation…

 

This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, everyone you know. After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1.The elbow is the strongest point on your body.

If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM.

Toss it away from you….

Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

 

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car,

Kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won’t see you, but everybody else will.

This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their chequebook, or making a list, etc. )
DON’T DO THIS!

The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go.

AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR , LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.

5. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head

DO NOT DRIVE OFF,

Repeat:

DO NOT DRIVE OFF!

Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car.

Your air bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it . As soon as the car crashes bail out and run.

It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

6. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

A.) Be aware:

Look around you,

Look into your car,

At the passenger side floor ,

And in the back seat

 

B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door.

Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

C.) Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.

IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.

(And better paranoid than dead.)

7. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs.

(Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot.

This is especially true at NIGHT!)

8. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN!

The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

9. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP!

It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked ‘for help’ into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

Send this information to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or love one’s life.

 

Boys and Girls Town South Africa needs your R50 donation!

Your gift of R50 today could change a child’s future

A message from Boy and Girls Town South Africa:

“With counselling, care and encouragement, a rebellious girl or boy can turn into a happy, responsible and successful young person. We have the skills and patience … but we need YOUR help with the practical necessities like food, school fees, clothing and remedial help.

As little as R50 would help keep our Hotline open; R100 buys the bread and milk for one of our community homes; R250 helps sponsor a parenting course; and R500 helps towards the cost of caring for a youngster at Girls & Boys Town.

Donations of any amount are received with gratitude.”

A simple, secure, online payment can be made – giving as little as R50 can help. If you want, you can even set up an easy monthly gift. You can choose where your money goes to:

·         Upgrading security in the homes

·         Caring for a boy or girl at one of the residential facilities

·         Sponsoring parenting programmes to help keep families together

Or you can instruct Girls and Boys Town South Africa to use the money where the need is greatest.

Click here to go to the donations page now!

Support the Dalai Lama – be the one millionth signatory!

You can help make tomorrow’s world by acting today.

 So far, over 360,000 people have signed an urgent petition calling on the Chinese government to respect human rights in Tibet and engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama. After nearly 50 years of Chinese rule, the Tibetans are sending out a global cry for change. But violence is spreading across Tibet and neighboring regions, and the Chinese regime is right now considering a choice between increasing brutality or dialogue, that could determine the future of Tibet and China.

We can affect this historic choice. China does care about its international reputation. Its economy is totally dependent on “Made in China” exports that we all buy, and it is keen to make the Olympics in Beijing this summer a celebration of a new China that is a respected world power. 

President Hu needs to hear that ‘Brand China’ and the Olympics can succeed only if he makes the right choice. But it will take an avalanche of global people-power to get his attention. Click below to help by signing a petition to President Hu calling for restraint in Tibet and dialogue with the Dalai Lama. 

The petition is organized by Avaaz.org, a not-for-profit global campaigning organization. Avaaz is urgently aiming to reach one million signatures to deliver directly to Chinese officials. 

Please forward this information to all your friends who you feel may be interested. 

Help make tomorrow’s world by acting today: http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/

Petrol saving tips: How and when you fill up makes a difference!

With the continual increase in the fuel and petrol prices – and the news everyday hinting toward yet another increase, everyone is starting to feel the pinch.

In addition to the more obvious fuel saving tips, such a ridesharing and lift clubs, using public transport, walking / cycling to work, or moving home closer to work, I was surprised to find that the way in which one fills up also affects your fuel usage.

 

Here are four simple tips, received via email, that you can implement next time you fill up to save yourself a bit of cash!

TIPS ON FILLING YOUR CAR(S)

 

• Only buy or fill up your car or bakkie in the early morning when the ground  temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the fuel, when it gets warmer petrol expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening….your litre is not exactly a litre.

  In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the petrol, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role.  A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

 

• One of the most important tips is to fill up when your tank is HALF FULL.. The reason for this is, the more fuel you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. petrol evaporates faster than you can imagine. Petroleum storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the petrol and the atmosphere,
  so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, at fuel pipelines, every truck that is loaded is temperature compensated so that every litre is actually the exact amount.

 

• If there is a fuel truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy, DO NOT fill up–most likely the petrol/diesel is being stirred up as the fuel is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles at the bottom.

 

• When you’re filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapours that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapour return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapour. Those vapours are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you’re getting less worth for your money.

DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS!

Tips on how to save electricty

 Why should you care about saving electricity?
 

1)       Cutting your electricity bill down means saving money

2)       Reducing your energy consumption level helps reduce your carbon footprint and means you help save the planets resources 3)       With the current energy crises in SA, not wasting electricity means there less power cuts and generally less hassle for all of us!

 Take a look the following 28 ways to decrease your energy usage and implement a few of them this week to start saving electricity today.

It’s as simple as being smart about lighting choices, using economical washing and drying methods, fixing a dripping tap and adopting energy efficient cooking techniques.

Don’t leave electrical appliances on standby

1. Many of us with use the remote to switch off the tv or stereo, leaving the appliance running on standby. this means the appliance is still using up electricity and wastes a considerable amount of energy. by switching off at the main power button, or even the socket, you can save both energy and money.
2. items left on standby use up to 85% of the energy they would use if fully switched on. An extra million tonnes of carbon will be released into the atmosphere through this power wastage.

Lighting

1. In most homes, about 10-15% of the electricity bill is for lighting. Use energy saving light bulbs to cut your costs considerably. Traditional light bulbs waste a lot of energy, whilst the 20 – 25 watt bulbs use up to four times less energy.
2. No matter what type of lighting you are using, always turn the lights off when you leave a room.

Solar garden lights

1. There are a number of different solar-powered lights available for use in the garden. These lights are highly energy efficient and convenient as they do not require external extension leads or special electrical fittings. These lights contain solar cells which convert the sun’s energy into electricity. They charge up during the daylight and light up as it gets dark. They are not usually hugely bright but are less intrusive than electric lights and look nice in the flowerbeds.

Economical washing and drying

1. Washing machines and tumble dryers are big electricity users. You may not be able to cut down how often you use them, but small changes in how you use them will save energy and money.
2. When using the washing machine, between 85-90% of energy is used just to heat up the water. Therefore, dropping the water temperature of your wash could significantly decrease your electricity consumption. Over a year, by using a warm wash rather than a hot wash, you could cut consumption nearly in half.
3. Only use the washing machine when you have a full load. If you have to do a smaller wash, use the half load function. The spin on the machine may mean that more energy is used, but by spinning your clothes you are removing more excess water, therefore reducing your drying time in a tumble dryer.
4. You can cut down on using tumble dryers by line drying clothes outside whenever possible or using an indoor clothes dryer when the weather is bad.

Fix a dripping tap

1. A dripping tap can be not only annoying but if it is a hot water tap it can cost you in both water costs and water heating costs.
2. If left to drip, over time a hot tap can waste enough water to fill half a bath. So don’t pour water and your heating costs down the drain, make sure you fix it.

Efficient cooking

1. There are a few easy ways to save energy when cooking which can also speed up the amount of time you spend over a hot stove. Always use the correct size pan and, when heating water, only use the amount you need.
2. If only using a small pan, then use a smaller burner. Boiling water in the kettle first will save the time the burner needs to heat the water, and putting a lid on will help it come to a boil quicker.
3. When making a cup of tea, only boil the amount of water that you need. Boiling a full kettle unnecessarily is a waste of electricity.

Fridge and freezer

1. The location of your fridge can make a difference in how energy efficient it is. Make sure it is out of direct sunlight and not close to the oven. It is best to keep it against an outside wall so that the heat it generates can escape easily, and always make sure that there are a few inches space all around the fridge so that air can circulate.
2. Make sure you defrost your fridge and freezer on a regular basis or whenever necessary. An iced up freezer will make the freezer work harder, therefore wasting more energy than needed.
3. Only set your fridge to as cold as you need it and avoid keeping the door open for long periods of time. The more cold air escapes, the harder the fridge has to work and the more electricity it uses. Check the seal regularly as a damaged seal also lets cold air escape.
4. Never put warm or hot food into the fridge as this will make the fridge work extra hard to try and keep it cold; allow food to cool down first.
5. Defrost frozen food in the fridge as this helps to keep it cool as it thaws.

Water heating tips

1. In many homes, the single biggest electricity expense is the heating of water. This typically accounts for about 30% to 40% of the electricity account.
2. By taking a shower instead of a bath you can save hot water. Showers typically use less water than a bath.
3. Get the family into the habit of plugging the water basin when washing or shaving. Allowing hot water to pour out of the taps and down the drain is wasteful.
4. Use the sun’s energy to heat your water by installing solar panels. This will save electricity and cut down your electricity bill.

Geyser

1. Do not set the thermostat on the geyser too high. A setting of 50-60|C is recommended.
2. A geyser blanket helps prevent heat escaping from the geyser. A geyser blanket may cost in the region of R150, but the pay-back in electricity efficiency and electricity savings make it a good investment. It should take less than an hour to install a geyser blanket and over twenty years it may save you over R2 500 (in 1997 terms) in electricity bills (at an electricity price of 22,5c/kWh).
3. To optimize electricity efficiency, geysers should be located as close as possible to the points where hot water is being used.
4. Insulated hot water pipes maintain their temperature at constant levels and prevent heat loss. Pay special attention to the insulation of the first 1.5 to two meters of hot water pipes nearest the geyser. Water pipes can also be insulated with ceiling insulation material, or through the use of pipe insulators that wrap around the pipes. This can save well over R1 000 (1997 terms) in heating costs over twenty years.
5. The water in most geysers stays hot for a long time. Electricity can be saved by switching off the geyser for long periods during the day and at night.

Feedback food redistribution needs your goodies!

Before you throw any of these items away…. STOP!

Feedback food redistribution provides food for those who don’t have any.

This non-profit organization has a list of items that it could use in order to help them do what they do.

Before you throw any of the following away, please give them a call and they will be happy to take it off your hands: 

• Black bags
• Bread Crates
• Brooms
• Buckets
• Buildings with warehouse space
• Chairs
• Cleaning materials and chemicals
• Computers
• Crockery
• Dolly trolley
• Filing cabinets
• Flip chart
• Gloves
• Magazines
• Newspapers
• OHP
• Safety boots
• Screen
• Scrubbing brushes
• Specialised bins for sandwiches
• Tin collection bins
• Tyres
• Uniforms
• Whiteboards (very big ones)

  

To see the complete list of what the branch in your region needs, click here.

To get hold of FEEDBACK directly, contact

Carol Brand

Fundraising Assistant

+27 21 6850484

+27 21 6857482