Help give the gift of a (warm) smile this winter
As a company that truly cares about its local community and wants to ensure vulnerable children are kept warm this winter, Sasol is calling on members of the public to donate blankets to its nationwide blanket drive with a customer reward of free coffee – the blanket contributions will be distributed to children undergoing facial surgeries as part of the Smile Foundation’s national surgical programme.
The Smile Foundation is a NGO that holistically assists children with surgically treatable facial conditions. It not only helps facilitate free corrective facial reconstructive surgeries, but also ensures these young beneficiaries receive the right pre- and post-operative care.
“Corrective facial reconstructive surgery offers new hope for these children and their families. But it’s imperative the children receive the right care before and after their operations. In winter, that means staying warm while they make the often very long and difficult journey to the hospital, and keeping opportunistic infections at bay while they’re in recovery and return home after their surgeries. This blanket drive helps us address both those very important issues,” explains Hedley Lewis, Executive Director, Smile Foundation
Lewis adds that the Smile Foundation would be grateful for any blankets the public could spare, including new blankets. “Due to our multi-disciplinary approach to these paediatric surgeries, we support the children right through their recovery. As part of this, we take into consideration the opportunity for infections, and will be supplying the Smile patients with any new blankets that are donated,” he says.
Older blankets that have been so kindly donated will be distributed by Sasol and the Smile Foundation to others in need, like homeless and animal shelters.
Making a difference
“We are delighted to partner with the Smile Foundation on such a worthy initiative and highlight the magnificent impact they have in changing these young lives,” explains Tilene Narainan, Sasol’s National Convenience Manager. “As a brand rooted in South Africa’s local communities, we continually strive to play a positive role in making a difference. Leveraging our retail network for the winter blanket drive benefits these deserving young children and beyond that, other charities in need of assistance..”
Blankets can be dropped off at your Sasol Delight stores nationwide between now and 6 July 2016. Please also challenge family and friends via Twitter using the handle @SasolSA and hashtag #Blankets4Coffee.
About Smile Foundation:
We’re About Putting Smiles on the Faces of Children in South Africa!
Smile Foundation is a South African NGO that assists children with any type of facial or other conditions, to receive reconstructive surgery within South Africa. We help children who suffer from treatable facial anomalies such as cleft lip and palate, all burns, Moebius syndrome (facial paralysis) and other conditions. We are currently based in 8 Academic Hospitals around South Africa. We are investing in the medical teams we work with, through an Academic Skills programme, and we assist the hospitals by purchasing equipment for use by the Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Our Chief Patron, the late honorable Nelson Mandela’s wish was for us to assist as many children around South Africa as possible to alleviate the stigma attached to living with a facial condition. For more information, contact Smile Foundation on www.smilefoundation.co.za or 0861 276 453. Make a donation today! Help put a smile on a child’s face today! SMS “Smile” to 38413 to donate R10.
