Get up and do something about it - #TBDZA

I was going through my blog history (other people call it procrastination), and I came across this post , that I wrote nearly two years ago, about the Twitter Blanket Drive. In this post, I mentioned what I great idea it was, and how I'd love to meet the person behind it, one @MelanieMinnar.

Fast forward two years, and hey, look what's happened: not only did I meet Melanie, I met her at my son's school, where her son is in the same year, and our boys have become friends. And not only did she make a huge success of the inaugural Twitter Blanket Drive in 2010, she kept it going last year, and has gone biggerbetterfastermore in 2012, by making it a national campaign.

And all this, as a mom to two boys who works a full day as general manager for a busy Johannesburg agency. Respect, much? Huge.

So... here's the deal. Instead of sitting at home wailing about the people who are going to be suffering in the cold outside this winter, while you're wrapped in your blankets on top of your electric blanket, get yourself out to the shops and buy some blankets - Game has some for as little as R20 at the moment, but go wild - skip buying takeaways for dinner this weekend, and spend the money on making someone warm instead. Have a look in your cupboards to see if there are any blankets or warm clothes that you don't use any more, and set them aside too. And then have a look at the #TBDZA website to find a drop off point near you.

You'll find that there are venues across the country that are hosting 'Tweetups' on 26 May, but several of them, such as Higher Ground restaurant, will accept donations any time from now - and they'll give you a free coffee to say thank you for your efforts.

The donations will be distributed via several official charities, so you know that your kindness will be shared where it's needed the most.

So - two things:

1 Get up off your couch and do something about the plight of your fellow South Africans. It's not difficult, it's not expensive, and it's an opportunity to meet other people who care about their fellow citizens the future of our country.

2 Thank you, Melanie, for making this happen. You are proof that if you need something huge done, give it to a busy person! You and your network of friends and colleagues that have organised this are an inspiration to the rest of us. If everyone out there committed to doing something positive, even if it's just a fraction of the size of the #TBDZA, South Africa, and the world, would be a much better place.