You don’t always need grand gestures to make a world of difference. As Hillcrest High School learner Katey Steyn has shown us all, sometimes all it takes is a few black bags and a heart willing to serve!
Hillcrest, South Africa (29 July 2026) – Sometimes, just sometimes, a small action can make a massive difference – even something as simple as a black plastic bag!
Hillcrest High School learner and 2026 President of the RCL, Katey Steyn, inspired her fellow students by placing black bags in every classroom, encouraging them to fill each one with pre-loved clothing for families in need.
But Katey didn’t stop there. Inspired by this year’s Nelson Mandela International Day theme of: “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity”, she further reached out to Kearsney College and encouraged the boys to also take part in the clothes collection drive. They enthusiastically came on board and went through their belongings to donate what they no longer had use for.
The result? Two cars were filled to the brim with black bags packed with clothing that will now bring warmth, dignity and hope to countless children, families, gogos and grandpas in the disadvantaged communities in and around the Hillcrest area this winter.
Katey’s incredible initiative showed a depth of leadership and heart that goes far beyond her years.
The Robin Hood Foundation SA, which received the bags of clothing, was moved by Katey and her peers’ kind gesture, generosity and ability to work together to create a real impact.
“Katey, thank you for your servant heart, your leadership and your compassion. Thank you to every learner at Hillcrest High School and Kearsney College who donated. Your generosity will ripple far beyond the bags of clothing you collected. Together, we are proving that when a community comes together, ordinary acts of kindness become extraordinary acts of hope.”
It all started with a kind leader, a few plastic bags, and two schools full of willing hearts – delivering not just warmth to a community, but a touch of compassion that will stay with every receiving soul for a long time to come.
Sources: Robin Hood Foundation SA
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:
Related Stories
Megon Cared for Both Her Parents. Now It’s Her Turn to Be Cared For
'I'm Struggling With Two!' – Student in Awe of One-Armed Ceramics LecturerOr catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 
