Shelter provides a second chance for lost souls

Soul Outreach Community Upliftment has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a soup kitchen and distributing food parcels.

Started in March 2019, the organisation has made huge strides in its efforts to help the less fortunate.

Shortly before lockdown, it opened the doors to its overnight shelter for men living on the streets.

Situated at 157 Hamilton Avenue in Dalview, the shelter has a strict no drugs and alcohol policy.

“Some of the people we took in have lived on the streets for so many years that it took a long time to bring them back to civilisation by giving them hope and knowing that they don’t have to beg or steal,” said Beverley Croote, CEO of the organisation.

“Some of the men were under the influence of substances and have since become clean and sober.

“They can walk the streets with pride now knowing they do not have to live the life they thought they did.

“We looked at the situation in the Brakpan community with people standing at the traffic lights and walking the streets begging to make ends meet to provide for their family and themselves.

“Today we are sitting with a full shelter where we have given these people the opportunity to prove themselves and we have uplifted them. We have given them back their dignity.”

The men who make use of the shelter help keep the rooms and premises clean.

In addition, they are provided spiritual upliftment and a church service is held each Sunday, with cell group meetings on Wednesdays.

“Most of the men who entered our shelter were broken people and Soul Outreach has given them the hope to believe again,” said Croote.

To assist with the running costs of the shelter, as well as the soup kitchen and food parcels, the organisation opened a charity shop.

“We opened it within a week to help sustain the overnight shelter and we are still going strong,” said Croote.

“We have included our skills development project in order to help the people that come into our shelter earn extra money, so in our store we have lots of crafts and hand-made items.”

Women have not been forgotten by Soul Outreach and it is currently searching for premises to establish a women’s shelter.

“We know the situation on the streets, some women are selling their bodies just to make ends meet and they think that’s the only way to survive, but we know it’s not,” said Croote.

“The influence of drugs is a huge concern in the Brakpan community and we would really like to help these women to let them know there is someone who want to help.”

The organisation has given some women, who have been standing at local intersections begging, the opportunity to join Soul Outreach in its fund-raising office.

“They are doing well and are determined to make a difference,” said Croote.

Donations for the organisation’s charity shop are always welcome and items of clothing or household goods will be gratefully received.

“We will collect and all the proceeds will go back into our overnight shelter and soup kitchens,” said Croote.

“We do it all from the heart and with passion for people we can help and uplift.”

For more information about the organisation, contact Croote on 076 640 4238 or Martina Stickling (director) on 062 887 0322.