#TBD2017

Back in the day when Twitter was still fun and not filled with fake news, fake agenda's and well, fake people, a few good Tweeps decided to do something a lot more with the social platform and not just use it as a place for following celebs and keeping up to date with the trends. They made the social network, work for them by networking with others for a common cause, to donate blankets to the needy over the winter season and all it took was a single tweet in 2010, since then Twitter Blanket Drive has grown in leaps and bounds with more partnerships and more donations over the years. This year see's it running for the 7th year and partners up with #DignityDrive, which is an initiative launched local TV personality Siv Ngesi. 

Last year, in celebration of his 31st birthday, Siv opted out of a birthday bash and instead challenged South Africans to donate much needed sanitary products for girls who cannot afford them. "If men bled once a month, there would be free pads available, like condoms! I will not rest until this is a reality" says Ngesi. So in conjunction with collecting new or used blankets for the less fortunate, this year the Twitter Blanket Drive will also welcome donations of pads, tampons, and reusable moon cups. Like the years before, the kind folk at Protea Fire & Ice in Pretoria, Melrose Arch and Cape Town have opened their doors as collection points. For folks in Durban, the local drop of venue is St Clements, at 191 Musgrave Road, Durban. 

Collections started on Monday the 3rd of April and ends on the 25th of May 2017. Supporters and donors can come to the final day to help count the donations received, depending on the venue, there will be performances by local artists who all have volunteered their time and performances on the night. While many of us do get caught up with a lot of the bad that happens on the social platform, this is one of the good things that we have going, so lets help spread the word and hopefully make a small change to someones life by giving something back. 

For more information or to become involved in this years drive, please visit www.twitterblanketdrive.com 

Official hashtags and accounts to note.  @tbdsouthafrica & @tdbafrica, when donating, please use the hashtag #TBD2017 & #DignityDrive.

TDB2016

As the winter chill starts to make it's way across the country for the onset of the season that has many hiding indoors and seeking the warmth, many across our nation haven't the luxury that most of us afford. Many of us will be snuggled up with our favourite blanket and be on our phones communicating to our friends and family or catching up on the latest in the social networking world. It's become a big part of our life now has social networking and plays a major role in society now, some good and some bad but it's with events like the Twitter Blanket Drive that we see the good that can come out with it. 

TDB has been around since 2010, when founding member Melanie Minaar reached out to the relatively new social platform in hope to collect some blankets for the less fortunate before the winter season and since then it has snowballed into an annual drive for blankets across the country. I've been participating in the Durban one since it's inception and it's great to see the online community come together for a great cause. 

This year the Durban group will be collecting blankets till the end of May, all donations will be handed over to the KwaCare charity for distribution. Blankets can be dropped off at St Clements Coffee Shop, 191 Musgrave Road, Durban. It's a great cause and your help will keep someone warm this winter, whether its 1 or 100, every bit helps. 

For more information or to become involved in this years drive, please visit www.twitterblanketdrive.co.za or contact Durban co-ordinator Fred Felton at falconscove@gmail,com or follow @fredfelton @TBDAfrica on twitter

#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.