This is not the first time you may be reading about the work of Jehovah Jireh Community Outreach Ministries, and it will likely not be the last.

When God spoke to Zelda Isaacs and instructed her to feed the community, they did not know what it would become, but their work has reached thousands over their 11 years.

Pastor Cecil Isaacs, who has had his own struggles with drug abuse and ending up homeless himself many years ago, says this work has been rewarding and after giving themselves over to the prophecy on their lives, they have never been found lacking.

“Because I know what it is like to be homeless and to be hungry and to be on drugs, I can never turn anyone away from the line. I can never not give that man a plate of food,” he says.

Their weekly feedings from their Linaria Street site sees on occasion 700 people from across Mitchells Plain and surrounding areas queue for a meal. This is also an opportunity to encourage those waiting.

Elderly, children, men and women wait for their meals dilligently each weak. Not only do they walk long distances, this speaks to the dire need in the communities, and how much they are really struggling.

What is most hearbreaking is the number of children, says Zelda.

“Our children are really left to fend for themselves,” she says.

“We are living in a time where parents are enslaved by drugs. They are not looking after these children. They are dirty, they are on the streets by themselves. We have a big problem,” says Cecil.

Breakfast run

This prompted the organisation to also introduce a breakfast run, which offers lunch packs to children passing by to surrounding schools.

“They often don’t have anything in school. We have nine schools in the area with children passing here,” says Zelda.

“But what we are really struggling with is things for the bread. The items that used to be the cheapest is now so expensive,” says Cecil.

What started as a few meals from their home in Lentegeur has grown to now include serving thousands of people across the province.

Because of permitting issues and water connection still delayed at their feeding location, the couple no longer cook themselves, but rather serve cooked free-range beef, chicken or lamb, delivered in more than 800 kg batches from Ina Paarman’s every week.

Donations

As the sole beneficiaries from companies Ina Paarman’s and Die Visfabriek with truckloads of food, along with Blue Ribbon bread and other donors, they feed not only from their Mitchells Plain base, but also share food to other feeding points in places such as Ravensmead, Manenberg, Grassy Park, Philippi and even Laingsburg, Klawer and Vanrhynsdorp among other areas.

“We try to go where the need is. There is a need in Lentegeur, but there is always a greater need somewhere else,” says Cecil.

“We went to Egoli informal settlement after a fire and the need there is devastating. Most of the children don’t even wear shoes,” says Zelda.

“We will ask people what they are going to make, and they come up with great ideas. They find a way to stretch that meat for a few meals,” says Cecil.

“It is not often you find meat because it is so expensive.”

The meat comes from the extraction process by Ina Paarman’s in their sauce and spice making processes.

Their means of communication is via WhatsApp and word of mouth as they no longer have set feeding dates. Lines can start as early as 11:00, with feedings only at 15:00.

“People are no longer hungry, they are starving. You don’t have to look far. Your neighbours are starving,” says Isaacs.

While they are fortunate enough to have the generous donations from companies and individuals, they still rack up exorbitant electricity and diesel bills. This remains their main need.

The organisation is also a registered public benefit organisation with a tax benefit number.