Pretty things for little things
Children, especially those less priviledged, is a vulnerable section of our society and therefore the Shoprite Checkers supermarket group reaches out a hand of support to them. The supermarket group, in association with Age in Action, annually sponsors the Pretty Things for Little Things project - a competition that urges Shoprite and Checkers customers, especially senior citizens, to put their creative skills to work to make something for needy children. This year more than 18 000 toys and items of clothing were entered! These items will be distributed across the country to needy kids as early Christmas presents.
The project is open to all ages, but senior citizens over 60 who enter their handiwork stand a chance of winning generous cash vouchers that can be used at Shoprite, Checkers or Checkers Hyper stores nationwide. Entrants can make anything practical, durable and safe that a child can wear or play with. Articles can be made of any resources available and can be entered into four categories namely soft toys, blankets, clothing, and other articles made from materials such as wood, tin, wire and so on.
Three provincial winners per category were selected in each province. The provincial winners received gift vouchers to the value of R2500, R2000 and R1500 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in that order and also went through to the final judging round in which three national winners per category are chosen. [Click here to see who the provincial winners are (.pdf)]
National judging took place on 7 October 2009 and the following winners were announced for each category:
Soft Toys
 1st: Mary McCarthy, Thabazimbi, Limpopo
2nd: Marlene Lang, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
3rd: Maria Johanna Prinsloo, Brits, North West
Blankets
1st: Silla Strydom, Springs, Gauteng
2nd: Marie Wessels, Betlehem, Free State
3rd: Mathilda Louw, Bellville, Western Cape
Clothing
1st: Silvia Greyling, Springs, Gauteng
2nd: Marlene Lang, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
3rd: Anna Minnaar, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga
Other
1st: Noeline van der Watt, Three Rivers, Gauteng
2nd: Anne Steyn, Boshof, Free State
3rd: Boet van Niekerk, Riversdal, Western Cape
National winners received vouchers to the value of R6000, R4000 and R3000 for the top three positions respectively.
A merit prize was awarded for the most entries received from an individual in each province, as well as a R1000 prize for the person who enters the most items nationally. This year two Western Cape entrants - Mrs Cynthia Veldtman from Brooklyne and Mrs Charlotte Nel from Velddrif - were rewarded with the national merit prize for the staggering amount of toys each entered individually. [Click here to see who entered the most items per province (.pdf)]
Winners will be treated to a special social event in conjunction with Age-in-Action and the names of the national winners will be featured in the December issue of Ideas magazine. | 
