Dear Ladles Supporter
It’s the final countdown to Mandela Day 2026! Ladles of Love is a hive of activity with the teams buzzing around getting ready for our massive events. Every year we think: How do we top last year? Somehow the Madiba magic ignites ideas and gives us the wings to fly higher.
The truth is everyone wants to roll up their sleeves and get involved in Mandela Day. The only things that stand in the way are time and distance. The good news is, this year there is no reason why anyone should be left out, no matter where you are in South Africa.
If our courier can find you, we’ve got you covered. You can have the same ‘Hands-On’ experience whether you are at DHL Stadium on Friday 17 July, the Johannesburg Expo Centre on Wednesday 22 July, or at your own event location anywhere in SA anytime from 16 – 31 July.
With the help of brilliant early childhood development education specialists, Annerie Dresselhaus of Grow Learning Company and Mandy and Kate from Hero in my Hood, we have developed ‘Hands-On Hero’ kits. Each kit has everything you need to produce items to nourish, nurture or grow preschool children in need.
We rallied friends and family to stress-test the kits and they handmade the most amazing items that bring the story of good nutrition to life. There are kits to craft vegetable trucks, bean bags and sock puppets or create flash cards, posters and activity workbooks. There is a degree of difficulty, but the results were brilliant.
Never has doing good felt so good and been so much fun. For 67 minutes, you are going to think of nothing other than helping nurture a future leader. Last week, we went into the field to see how the kids and teachers would react to all the items we produced and, hands down, it was a success. They loved them.
For folks who are not into crafting or creating, our flagship events have plenty of other ways to get involved. In the Make Zone, you can spread sandwiches or pack nutrition boxes, and in the Grow Zone, you’ll plant veggie seeds for the urban farmers who provide fresh produce to fill our preschool pots.
For us Mandela Day is a labour of love and our biggest event of the year. We put a massive amount of time, energy and strategic planning into making volunteering an epic experience.
All we ask of you is to support us and buy tickets. Whether you attend one of our events or create your own, whatever you do, do it. Gather a group, call in your crew or round up family because everyone is a hero at heart.
The kids need us and we need you. ❤️
Together let’s make our country a better place for all our children.
Get your tickets and let’s do it,
https://ladlesoflove.org.za/mandela-day/
Danny and the Ladles of Love team.
