Soup helps feed the body and nourish the mind
Soup kitchen goes a long way in helping the needy of Primrose.
For many people food in their stomachs is not something they consciously think about.
It is a given that you will eat during the course of the day.
However, the reality is that for many people this is not the case.
This is where the Itemba Soup Kitchen comes in.
It feeds the hungry every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
The soup kitchen is based at the Primrose East Dutch Reformed Church in Primrose East and was established in 1999 to help feed the unemployed and needy in Primrose.
It was founded by Kotie van Aswegan from van Aswegan’s Electrical and Stienie Beeslaar who is a member of the congregation.
Today the soup kitchen is co-ordinated by Jenny Schneigansz, who has been involved for 11 years, and her husband Frans who helps her.
“Come rain or shine we are always here to feed the needy in the community,” Jenny said.
Recently Ackermans Pharmacy has come on board to assist and this is how they are now able to feed people on a Thursday.
The pharmacy supplies all that is needed to feed the people, as well as two staff members to assist with the work every Thursday.
To feed the people, 30 litres of soup and 20 loaves of bread are needed for every meal.
“We sell second-hand clothes to raise funds to buy the soup ingredients and what we don’t sell we donate to people in informal settlements,” Jenny said.
“Nothing goes to waste and if we receive large donations, we will often share these with other organisations in the community who need help.”
Jenny added they could not run the soup kitchen without the ongoing support of the church, the Sonhoogte Dutch Reformed Church’s women’s associations, as well as Ackermans Pharmacy, CMR (in particular Ina Marais and Rene Immelman), all the helpers and donors, and she thanks everyone.
“But most of all I thank God as He always provides more than we ask for or need.
“He never lets us down,” she said.
If you would like to assist the soup kitchen with donations or want to donate second-hand clothing for them to sell to raise funds, contact Jenny on 083 273 0824.
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