The Kouga Soup Kitchen Organisation, a community-based initiative comprising 12 soup kitchens in Ward 4 of Kouga Municipality, recently hosted a vibrant event for young people in Humansdorp.
The celebration, held at Gill Marcus, brought together local children, community members, healthcare workers, and municipal representatives for a day of entertainment, education, and nourishment.
Petronella Ruiters, Chairperson of the Kouga Soup Kitchen Organisation, said that the event was a wonderful occasion where they came together with the local clinic, municipal councillor, the community, and children. She said that the dancers from Lil’ Royals Academy and the STK Dance Crew entertained the kids.
“Our main objective is to hold regular occasions like this in the future, reaching out to our community,” said Ruiters.
The event highlighted the organisation’s commitment to not only feeding the hungry but also addressing broader community issues.
“The purpose of the event was to teach the youth about personal development from childhood to adulthood, making positive life choices, avoiding drug misuse, and preventing housebreaking in our community,” said Ruiters.
Founded in September 2024, the Kouga Soup Kitchen Organisation unites 12 individual soup kitchens under one umbrella to maximise their impact.
Ensuring the smooth functioning of the organisation alongside Ruiters are Selamma Oerson (Vice Chairperson), Carmen Booysen (Secretary), Charmonay Swarts (Treasurer) and Mary-Ann Kramer (Vice Treasurer).
Ruiters said that the collaborative approach of the 12 soup kitchens allows them to share resources, with members helping each other with ingredients when supplies run short.
“We help each other with ingredients. When one does not have, the others give. So far, it works perfectly, and we’ve already created a bond among ourselves.”
The celebration featured a variety of activities, culminating in the distribution of soup and traditional roosterbrood prepared by the 12-member soup kitchens.
Several local businesses sponsored the event, including Pep Stores, Oos Kaap Apteek, Woodlands Dairy and Beauty Clinic.
The organisation also received water for the event, which was provided by Helen Nel.
Further elaborating on the organisation, Ruiters said that they face significant challenges, primarily funding and supplies.
“Currently, most members fund their soup kitchens from their own pockets, with occasional assistance from the local municipality in the form of vegetables. We are actively seeking partnerships with larger companies like Spar, Shoprite or the Kouga Windfarm Development Trust to help provide more regular meals to the community,” said Ruiters.
She further said that due to unemployment, most of the underprivileged in their community go hungry.
Ruiters said that if they could secure regular food supplies from larger corporations, they would be able to expand their feeding programme to additional days throughout the week.
She said that they are also in need of vegetables, blankets, first aid kits, clothing for families affected by house fires and cooking equipment.
Beyond feeding programmes, Ruiters said that the organisation has broader ambitions, including outreach to encourage school attendance, providing sanitary pads to female learners at various schools, establishing a community vegetable garden, and creating a support centre for women and children affected by abuse.
The 12-member soup kitchens are: Nella se Sopkombuis (led by Petronella Ruiters), 7de Laan Soup Kitchen (Selamma Oersen), UCC Soupkitchen (Mieta Leyong, Lea Cornelius, and Margaret Felix), Ihwesi Soup Kitchen (Marlene Whitbooi and Charmoney Swarts), Kruisfontein Service Centre (Faiza Jansen and Magrieta Jansen), Flippie & Marlene Feeding Hands (Marlene Williams), Old Age Soup Kitchen (Catherine Palmer), Kayna’s Soup Kitchen (Kayna Goeda), Safe Haven Soup Kitchen (Marilyn Dyantyi), Youth Camp Development Project (Marchelle Prinsloo), Community Worker Soup Kitchen (Priscilla Franse) and Brighter Future for Us Soup Kitchen (Carmen Booysen).
For more information or to support the organisation, contact Petronella Ruiters at 083 565 9497.
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