THE Hillcrest residents have been preparing soup, sandwiches and providing food hampers to individuals who are assisting others, as well as attempting to deliver food to towns that have been cut off due to storm damage. The couple has been providing people with food and parcels from all over KwaZulu-Natal since April 11, and sent meals as far as Margate.
Karyn, The functions coordinator at Curro Hillcrest High School, said her journey to distributing hot meals, sandwiches and food parcels stemmed from a post on Facebook, where she offered assistance to anyone in need.
“When I began the feeding, I was making approximately 80 litres of soup per day. I partnered up with members of City Hope Church, where Sanele Gase helped me distribute the food to the local Embo communities.”
According to Smith, she collects and distributes around 40 loaves of bread daily to the community of Molweni and Botha’s Hill. The couple, with the help of friends and family, has distributed about 1 500 buckets of soup, 500 sandwiches as well as 130 food hampers to anyone who needed assistance.
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“I cook and package hundreds of soups per day and with the leftover ingredients I create food hampers.”
“As for those I cannot get too, I have sent them Checkers-Sixty or Uber eats deliveries,” she said.
Karyn and some school parents have also got the school involved in a clothing drive.
“Together with the help of parents, teachers and staff, we have managed to fill half a laboratory full of blankets, clothing and other items which are essential for families,” said Karyn proudly.
On Easter Sunday, Karyn and Rhett cooked meals for the Haven Rest Home in Botha’s Hill, which houses 18 senior citizens who lost their homes to the flood. “We prepared three-course meals for these families, in the hope that we could spread some joy during the Easter period, despite the devastation they have experienced.”
It’s almost two weeks since the disaster hit KwaZulu-Natal and the couple is still distributing hundreds of meals every day.
“I will continue distributing hot meals for as long as I have donations and foods to do so. I have spent a considerable amount of my own money. I encourage people to make donations as every donation, small or big, goes a long way,” said a humble Karyn.
If you would like to make any form of donation, kindly contact Karyn Smith on 082 828 2223.
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