The team from Events For A Purpose are rallying their community to collect 2,000 warm blankets this winter for their first blanket drive. The hope is to support over 600 dogs cared for by four incredible charities.
Northern Johannesburg, South Africa (10 June 2025) – South Africa is in for a brutal cold snap, with forecasters warning of some of the heaviest and most widespread low-level snowfall in years. As temperatures plummet across the country this week, many of us will bundle up in blankets and stay close to heaters. But for hundreds of shelter dogs, the bitter chill could be life-threatening unless we step in.
A heartfelt community Blanket Drive is underway to help dogs in four overburdened shelters survive the freeze. Events For A Purpose is rallying support for the animal welfare organisations that collectively care for nearly 600 animals. These organisations include:
- The Dogs Trust (200 dogs)
- Dogtown South Africa (80 dogs)
- Paws R Us: SA (80 dogs)
- Happy Yappers Animal Sanctuary (225 dogs)
“These dogs don’t have homes. They don’t have heaters. But with your help, they can have warmth,” say organiser Ornella.
“Dog Town, only have large breed dogs, which means that they need at least two or three blankets each.
Some of these organisations also do outreach in the informal settlements so they also provide blankets there, where dogs are always exposed to the elements, some do not even have kennels.”
While any clean blanket is welcome, please avoid Budget Blankets as they tear easily, can’t be washed, and pose a choking risk. Instead, if you’re able, please opt for The Stormy Blanket, available from PEP. It’s warm, washable, safe, and ideal for shelters.
Where our own pooches have their one favourite blanket, animal welfare organisations need to have a larger stock for each dog in their care. One to use now, one for when the other is being washed and dried, and maybe one for safekeeping when anxiety kicks in and a blanket is accidentally shredded. That is why the team have set the ambitious goal of 2,000 blankets.
If you are keen to contribute, you can find all the current drop-off points below. Should you have any queries, feel free to reach out to the team via Facebook here.
Drop-off points include:
- SAINTS animal charity shop – Northriding
- The Daily coffee shop – Boskruin Village (free coffee when you drop of a blanket)
- Sorbet Douglasdale – Douglasdale Village Shopping Centre
- Margie’s den – Rustic timber garden centre
- Prison Break Market – Shed 3, outside the Management office
- CSS Community Support Services – 52 Randpark Drive, Randpark Ridge
- Pick n Pay Radiokop
- PAWS – Boskruin Village
- PEP Home – Randridge Mall, Randpark Ridge
- Animal Think Tank – 2 Sangster Rd, Magaliessig, Sandton
If you can, please add a blanket to your grocery run or pop into PEP for a Stormy Blanket, then drop it off and help a dog weather the storm. It’s going to be cold, but we don’t have to be.
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