On a Christmas mission to feed

CHRISTMAS preparations are underway for the El Gibbor Kitchen as they are calling on the public to join them in collecting the Christmas hampers. Speaking to the Highway Mail, co-founder of the organisation Stephanie Amod said the early preparations are to make sure that beneficiaries will get enough.

“Christmas is about family, sharing the love of our saviour, and being around family and friends with nice treats. This is really hard for the homeless who have no one around them, so we try to make it special for them. We try to provide a hamper that will sustain them through the holidays. Each hamper costs R150.”

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Amod said this is an exciting time for their organisation as they are now able to provide the very service that led them to found their organisation.

“Without even realising it, the El Gibbor Kitchen started unofficially in March 2018. My husband and I used to cook whatever we had to feed the homeless on the street that we lived on. There were about 15 people. Winter was fast approaching, and we sorted out blankets to keep them warm.

“Upon giving the guys the stuff, there was one guy that changed our lives forever. He just cried when he received the blanket and food. He hugged me and said, ‘Thank you for taking care of us. Many people see us as the scum of the Earth, and we don’t get respect because of the situation we’re in.’ He thanked us, and those words will forever be with us. It was the spark that ignited our passion to help others and make a difference.”

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Four years later, Amod said they are grateful to continue with their mission. “We feed almost 100 people every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. I am a cancer survivor, and I am on crutches, and my husband Hoosen and I sometimes cook the meals by ourselves. I cannot imagine not doing this; it gives us such a huge sense of joy knowing we are making a difference even if it’s in one person at a time,” she said.

Amod said the highlight of the work they do is when the guys make a change for the better, when they get clean, get off the streets, reconcile back with their family and start believing in themselves and knowing their worth.
The organisation is calling on the public to help them collect items for the Christmas hampers. Each hamper consists of the following items that the public can donate with: Baked beans, mixed veg, a can of tuna, a loaf of bread, a litre of milk, a can of jam, instant porridge, a litre of concentrated juice, and a packet of large chips. These products can be dropped off at 37 Bamboo Lane, Pinetown.