For the past 15 years, good Samaritan Marcelle Wentworth’s winter woollies initiative has warmed the bodies and hearts of hundreds of needy people in Gqeberha, and further afield.
And at the age of 70, she is not stopping.
Last week, she handed over 55 knitted and crocheted blankets to primary school pupils and needy residents in New Brighton.
Earlier in 2024, she provided 64 scarves and beanies for the elderly at Ekuphumleni Old Age Home in Zwide, jerseys and beanies for other needy people, and nine tracksuit pants for Isaac Booi Primary School pupils.
A further 70 jersey sets and beanies were delivered to a Motherwell creche and hundreds more, including baby outfits, to Willowmore Hospital.
Wentworth, a locum pharmacist, started her annual winter woollies outreach efforts in 2009.
Beneficiaries are identified through the help of community members, who then assist with passing the items on to those in need.
“These are all just random acts of kindness,” she said.
“Last winter, I saw some car guards at the Boardwalk on an icy cold day.
“I spoke to them to find out how many there were, and there were 20.
“I went back home and brought back 20 beanies.”
She said her winter woollies campaign was made possible through private donation drives.
“I’ve always put the word out, including ads in the paper, and people donate towards the winter woollies [campaign],” she said.
“These days, I have a few people who are happy to knit some items.
“When there are wool donations, I hand it to those knitting, who, in turn, give me the finished garments to donate.
“I also put notices up in the pharmacy. And, so, lots of customers know I do this.”
Wentworth said it gave her life meaning and purpose to know she was bringing some comfort to others in need.
“If you do something like this, you can’t explain it to somebody else.
“Unless they are doing it, they’ll have no idea how rewarding it is.
“And for especially the children, they are grateful and happy, though I don’t want them feeling obliged to be forever indebted to me.
“I do it in the hope the children can one day do it for others.”
HeraldLIVE
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