To cater for the needs of the people in their community, and to express the love they have for their small town, Humansdorp-based non-profit organisation, Ikhaya Labakhaya, recently established a soup kitchen in KwaNomzamo, and have been feeding hundreds of people at least twice a week.
As previously reported by Kouga Express, Ikhaya Labakhaya was initially established in 2020 to allow the group’s 40 members, who were all from Humansdorp, to keep in touch with each other since many of them had moved away for work.
According to group member, Xolani Woni, since their goal had always been to see their home town prosper in all aspects, the group had continuously tried their best to help individuals and schools in the Humansdorp area.
After embarking on various projects over the last three years, on February 7 Ikhaya Labakhaya opened the doors to their soup kitchen to help the underprivileged and vulnerable people in KwaNomzamo.
“We sometimes call ourselves ‘the children of the soil’, as we are all born and bred in Humansdorp. We therefore feel that we are giving back to the community who helped raise us,” said Woni.
On the first day he said that they fed about 50 people, but this number has continued to increase during each session.
The soup kitchen currently operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays from True Grace Ministries.
“For the last few weeks, we have been feeding hundreds of people from our community and we hope to continue helping the needy and vulnerable people for a long time to come,” said Woni.
“We are also hoping to provide meals to the underprivileged each day of the week, to make sure that people never go hungry.”
To ensure that the soup kitchen continues to provide meals for those in need, Woni said that they need donations from individuals and local businesses.
Thankfully, since establishing the soup kitchen almost a month ago, he said that they have received donations of food from Grand Liquors, De Hoeck Slaghuis and Farouk’s Fruit and Veg, to name a few.
“We want our soup kitchen to be a success and we are therefore appealing to the caring people of Kouga to help us,” said Woni.
He said that they need canned foods, fresh fruit and vegetables and soup packets, among other items.
Woni further said that they would also appreciate monetary donations as they need a stove and gas.
Members from the group who have continued to help with the operation of the soup kitchen include organisers, Cathy Madikane, and Woni, Nellie Luzipho (cook), Afro Hatana and Babalwa Kepe.
He said that members from Expanded Public Works Programme have also offered their time to serve food to the community.
- For more information, contact Xolani Woni on 078 331 8839, Babalwa Kepe on 073 243 4209 or Meisie Madikane on 073 801 8689.
