MARIE Roberts, a local resident who dedicated 27 years of her life to feeding the unemployed in Pinetown through the Interdenominational Christian Care initiative, has retired.
Marie said she began volunteering when she first arrived from the United Kingdom.
She had never worked in the country before but the previous coordinator of the project was retiring and she thought Marie would be the perfect person for the job.
The Interdenominational Christian Care was started more than 30 years ago and has been coordinated by Marie for the past 23 years.
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The prime objective of the organisation is to feed the unemployed each weekday morning, a meal consisting of samp and beans, rice and soup, a bread roll and a piece of cake.
The organisation feeds 80 to a 100 people a day at the Methodist Church premises in Pinetown under the banner of Steve’s Kitchen.
“I realised there was a great need to help feed the unemployed and the work just blossomed. I feel that God put me in this position because He felt that I was capable of helping out,” said Marie.
However, she explained it’s also a team effort.
She said she worked with lots of volunteers and that this project couldn’t exist without their help.
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“All this giving would not be possible without the help of Knowles Super SPAR and Checkers St Johns who kindly donate some food items, local churches who supply finance and the soup, as well as volunteers.”
She said the initiative encourages the recipients to pay 50 cents per meal but if they can’t, they still get the food.
“It is only out of self respect that the volunteers encourage them to pay the minimal fee, although its not necessary.”
She added that she is sad that she’s leaving as she had worked with wonderful people from different churches but they all got on well together.
Marie plans to relocate to Johannesburg with her husband to be closer to her family during her retirement.
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