Strand Samaritan Michelle Prinsloo is on a mission to feed 200 children, believing that nourishing their hungry bellies will inspire the minds of the neediest in the community.
However, the only thing preventing her from seeing a couple hundred smiling faces is funding.
The 61-year-old Broadlands Village resident has initiated a feeding scheme unofficially referred to as Wings of Hope, feeding around 65 children out of her own pocket weekly. The feeding scheme, which is not registered as yet, benefits the needy little ones who need the nourishment to succeed in school. “If a child is not fed, they don’t want to go to school,” said Prinsloo.
Her ability to empathise with the children’s hardship is what drives her compassionate support. After the death of her first husband Prinsloo turned to alcohol for comfort, which resulted in her children being taken from her. Seeing her children suffer because of her actions, she faded more deeply into despair. After getting on track, she saw her own children in the eyes of the little ones roaming the streets. This started a 33-year journey of opening her heart and her home to those in need. “When I overcame my suffering I wanted to make a difference,” she said.
Prinsloo keeps her door open for children who are hungry, and they come to get something to eat throughout the week, but on Thursdays and Fridays she prepares a large pot of food and turns her home into a drop-in centre. This results in her two-bedroom home being overcrowded.
She has big dreams for Wings of Hope. “If I close my eyes, I dream of bigger space so I can feed more children. This means I can make a difference in more people’s lives.”
- To support Prinsloo and help realise her dream, call her on 064 577 0402.
