Soul Food solves a problem

MIDRAND – The non-profit organisation donated much-needed bags of peppers, cabbages, tomatoes and potatoes among other things to the two organisations caring for children.

May 15, 2021

Ofentse Ditlopo 1 minute read

Skhosana Ndlovu from the Tumelo Home for the Mentally Handicapped welcomes food donations from David Sehlapelo from Soul Food Africa. Photo: Ofentse Ditlopo

Soul Food recently donated fresh food to local non-profit organisations.

The non-profit organisation, the primary project of the Soul Provider Trust, donated much-needed bags of peppers, cabbages, tomatoes and potatoes among other items. These items were donated to the Tumelo Home for the Mentally Handicapped in Ivory Park and the New Life Centre for Girls based in President Park on 29 April.

Simone Newman, impact manager at Soul Food, explained that the two centres were specifically chosen as they needed urgent assistance. David Sehlapelo, the regional manager who distributes and works with the centres, recognised this need and responded to their call for help.

Petros Mashaba, Sarah Makola, Gloria Mashao and Skhosana Ndlovu from the Tumelo Home for the Mentally Handicapped welcome food donations from David Sehlapelo from Soulfood Africa. Photo: Ofentse Ditlopo

Soul Food collects surplus food from farms, hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues as well as donations from manufacturers and stores. They then distribute the foods to hundreds of schools, orphanages, shelters, old age homes and places of refuge.

Newman added that as a manager in the Tshwane region and parts of northern Johannesburg, Sehlapelo is very involved in those communities, as an avid representative for Soul Food, and often hears of centres and schools that need assistance.

“When we hear of places needing assistance, like the New Life Centre for Girls, we visit the centre to first establish how the centre is set up and if they have the correct certification in place. Sehlapelo will also check that the food donated will be used correctly in their centre.

“We try to deliver food to the same schools and centres on a weekly basis. Our limitation is access to food, which is why we are appealing to food suppliers and food outlets to assist us with surplus food items.”

Sarah Makola, administrator at the Tumelo Home for the Mentally Handicapped, welcomed the donations and said that they were very helpful as they alleviate pressure on the organisation.

Khopotso Nakin, director at the New Life Center for Girls, also extended heartfelt words of gratitude to Soul Food. She thanked Soul Food for all the support that they showed because the food they donated was a direct answer to the department of social development’s requirement to feed children healthy meals.