#TBD2014

I don't know about you but I for one hate the cold! I rather it be blistering hot and I have the AC on to cool me down rather than having the heater on and sitting inside with a warm blanky and a cup of hot coffee. Then again being born and raised on the east coast of South Africa you can say I'm born loving the warmth, sadly as the years go by, the winters are getting colder and while we can afford things like blankets, hot water bottles and even roof over our heads to keep the elements at bay, many South Africans cannot. This is why we do the Twitter Blanket Drive, thousands of tweeters over the past few years have shown incredible support to the initiative and we're expecting an even bigger response this year. 

There are many drop off locations around Durban but the main event will be taking place at the Protea Hotel in Umhlanga Ridge. The event kicks off at 6pm so be sure to come around, say hi and make your donation. It doesn't have to be blankets, anything that will help the underprivileged keep warm during our harsh winter months. 

If you cannot make it to any of the drop off locations or the main event, the awesome guys down at Uber have come to the rescue. Simply spread the word amongst family and friends and to help out the guys at Uber, have a central pick up point. 

• On the 29th of May, between 10am and 3pm, open the Uber app on your phone
• Slide to the blanket option at the bottom of the app
• Select pick up location and then "Request pick up"

One of the snazzy Uber drivers will soon arrive to pick up your donation and deliver it free of charge on your behalf. Don't forget to snap some pics and tweet @TDBAfrica using the hashtag #TBD2014 and include  #UberrrLove if you're getting one of their drivers to pick up your collection. 

#TBD2013

You feel it in your fingers, you feel it in your toes, no its not love its the cold! Winter is making its icy way to our shores and YOU can help the underprivileged keep warm this year. In its 4th year running, the Twitter Blanket Drive has grown with collection points and events around the country and donations coming in from far and wide. Twitter is the fastest growing social media network at the moment and with millions using its service to share thoughts, vent frustration or keep informed with the latest news, TBD gives the user an opportunity to give back to the community.

On Saturday, May 25th there will be collection points for blankets nationwide. All blankets collected will be distributed to deserving charities. For more info, search the hashtag #TBD2013  alternatively you can follow @TBDZA or @TBDAfrica ....or if you're not on twitter they do have a Facebook page.

For my Durban peeps, Wakaberry have gladly joined the party by allowing all their stores to be collection points for blankets from 12pm onwards. The the main collection point being the Durban North store where you'll be able to meet some of the fine folk that organized this event.

Those details again

TBD 2011

The 4th of June came and went, and so with it the national Twitter Blanket Drive. As per my previous blog post #TBD the event was held on Saturday, June 4th with venues around the country. Durban making use of the great winter weather held the event for most part of the day, starting off with the I Heart Market in Greyville, there after at Luna Rossa at Gateway and ending off the day at Livingstons Pub in Glenashley.

The day itself was one for giving and to test the powers of social media by sending the message out to millions who use the network and for them to give a little something back. The response country wide was phenomenal with national radio station 5fm helping us spread the word. At the morning market alone we collected over 50 blankets and looked like getting even more at our 2nd event at Gateway. The weather was perfect as a summers day and slowly but surely twitter uses came by to drop off their blanket, share a drink and conversation with fellow tweeters.

I unfortunately couldn't make the last venue due to health reasons but I heard the turn out was great with many coming in with a blanket and to watch the rugby game between the Cheetah's and the Sharks on the big screens. Over all KZN collected an estimated 540 blankets and 70 t-shirts to donate to the Izulu Orphans Project in Northern KZN.

In only its 2nd year running it was good to see the #TBD get such great support from around the country and I cant only see it getting bigger and better as the years go by. Already looking forward to next years one!

#TBD

You've seen the hash tag, you've seen tweets about it but what exactly is #TBD? Everyone uses twitter for a purpose, whether its to vent your frustrations, share your thoughts or just as a pass time chatting to like minded folks, so with everything there is a chance to give something back. Since I spend most of my life time on twitter, I decided to get involved with this cause. Basically the Twitter Blanket Drive is a yearly event, which was started by @melanieminnaar last year and gives users the chance to go to specified locations around the country and donate a blanket for the less fortunate before the winter months roll in, this years being on the 4th of June. In exchange for the blanket one was rewarded with a cup of coffee and the chance to mix and mingle with other twitter users.

I was approached last year by @NevinSP to help photograph the event that was being hosted at Vida E, in Gateway, unfortunately due to family commitments I couldn't make it hence this year I'm throwing my weight (which is alot) behind the campaign, along with fellow Durban tweeters @waewest, @askashe, @lizlaughalot, @madammichelle & @coaxel. Although last years turn out was great, this year we're aiming to make it bigger and better with more venues, more sponsors and more importantly more time for you to make your drop off, meet and great with people doing the same.

The event will be held nationally so for more keep visting the website and search for the #TBD hashtag on twitter. That way if you want to get involved you can easily find more info on where your nearest venue is. As usual the 3 main cities have a little competition going on to see who can collect the most blankets but essentially the main winner is people who get these blankets. South African winters can get harsh as I found out last year during my visit to Joburg while the World Cup was on, so I cant imagine how the less fortunate survive with hardly much.


The venues for Durban are as follows:

1. 9am-12pm : I Heart Market - DLI Hall, Marriot Road, Greyville.
2. 11am-4pm : Luna Rossa - Gateway, Outside fountain food court (next to Primi)
3. 4.30pm - 8pm: Livingstons Gastro Pub - Glenore Center, Glenashley (Join us to watch the rugby)
   

How can one help?

• look out for tweets marked with the #TBD tag and RT.
• spread the word to anyone you know that wants to help out.
• come to any of the venues around the country on the 4th of June with a blanket.

At the end of the day its all about giving something back to the less fortunate, we're aiming to make this the biggest #TBD event to date, so help achieve this by popping down to any of the given venues with a blanket and join in on the fun of giving.

A big thank you to our sponsors that have come in so far: Williams Hunt, ABSA, SAPPI, CAR Magazine, FHM Magazine, TBWA, Paton Tupper, CarsSA.co.za and all of the tweeters that are helping spread the word.

Hope to see you on the 4th! and if you are participating, don't forget to use the #TBD hash tag!