When Marion Booysen, better known as Mary, from Rugby heard about the elderly in their area eating pet food because their monthly pension cannot cover all their expenses, she and her neighbour Isaiah Nombilo from the Democratic Republic of the Congo decided to start a soup kitchen.
“We all know the devastating effect Covid-19 had on all, people losing their jobs and the elderly depending on their pension only. Most of the elderly cannot even afford to pay their rent, buy food and electricity and had to use other means. We decided to have a soup kitchen to not only help the elderly or unemployed, but we became aware of single mothers as well,” Booysen says.
They started the Drommedaris Soup Kitchen early last year and only started by handing out soup and bread that were sponsored by an organisation based in Woodstock on Mondays and Wednesdays.
“We then started with seven volunteers and decided to give those who benefitted from the soup kitchen on Mondays and Wednesdays a cooked meal on a Saturday. We took money from our own pockets to buy meat, chicken, sausage or minced meat and after cooking the meals we would take the pots in a trolley and go door-to-door in our complex to deliver the food.
“We then got sponsors for vegetables and some cooked food. We have a sponsor who delivers food on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Saturday they get a special cooked meal from the Drommedaris Soup Kitchen. We also get money which we use to buy the meat,” Booysen says.
Their biggest challenge is they don’t have enough cooks. When Booysen is not available, no one else is available to cook.
“Last year we gave the elderly a Christmas meal. We had so many sponsors and helping hands for the Christmas meal and it really was a feast,” she says.
Those who want to get involved in the soup kitchen can phone Booysen on 073 720 8842.
