Selfless community champion, Eunice Boesman, from Thornhill, has dedicated her life to providing food and clothing to those in need through her home-based soup kitchen, You Nice Soup Kitchen, where she provides weekly meals to over 100 people, fostering hope and combating crime.
Boesman’s tumultuous childhood, marked by hardship and struggle in Thornhill, fuelled her compassion and drive to help others.
After experiencing adversity first-hand, she said she can empathise with those facing similar challenges, recognising that many, like her, did not choose to be born into difficult circumstances.
Despite the challenges she faced as a young girl, she said that she always believed that God had a great purpose for her life.
With a desire to help those in need, Boesman established a non-profit organisation, You Nice Soup Kitchen, from her home where she feeds more than 100 people every Wednesday with assistance from her friends, Lungelwa Gidi and Ntombekhaya Sam.
While her soup kitchen officially serves the community once a week, she said that her home remains a beacon of hope, with doors always open to provide a nourishing meal to anyone in need.
“Many times, people knock on my door while I am having supper and I often give them my plate of food or dish from the pot of food that I had made for my family,” said Boesman.
“I share whatever I have.”
Boesman believes that feeding the underprivileged can help prevent crime, address the root causes of desperation, and foster a more stable community.
“I always tell people to come to me if they are hungry because I do not want them to go to jail for stealing food,” said Boesman.
In response to her unpredictable income, she said she took proactive steps to establish a vegetable garden to harvest essential ingredients for her soup kitchen.
Boesman emphasised that her soup kitchen is a community-driven initiative, relying on donations and volunteer efforts.
Although she sometimes covers expenses personally, she said that she is deeply grateful for the regular donations she receives.
Despite the kindness of donors, Boesman’s soup kitchen faces an ongoing need for food donations from individuals and organisations to maintain its operations and continue serving the community.
Through community engagement, Boesman said that she has identified the needs of many underprivileged people and has been able to secure donations from individuals and organisations.
Thus far, she has helped disabled individuals with wheelchairs, walking frames and portable toilet seats.
Boesman has also accumulated clothing donations, blankets, mattresses and beds which she has distributed.
To help the community with any sewing requirements and to earn additional funding for her soup kitchen, three years ago she joined forces with two local women to establish a sewing business, MMB Sewing Project.
Thankfully, a generous donation of a container and sewing machines from the Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm helped kick-start their sewing business.
“I will never stop helping people because I have been in their shoes and I know what they are experiencing,” said Boesman.
For more information or to contribute towards You Nice Soup Kitchen contact Eunice Boesman at 073 143 9324.
