Donations help Khabazela Village soup kitchen feed vulnerable children, families
Since the nationwide lockdown was announced the township's soup kitchen has taken on added significance for those in need.
THE township of Khabazela Village lies just a few kilometres from the affluent suburb of Sunningdale, and the differences are stark. Large homes are replaced with small RDP homes, access to running water is restricted in some places to a communal tap and the most striking aspect is many children at the village can often go without food. This is where the community’s soup kitchen comes into play which on average feeds around 60 children from the area.
However since the nationwide lockdown was announced, the village’s soup kitchen has taken on added significance. Community leader, Dumile Magaqa, said the kitchen now serves more than 100 children and families living in the township.
“We’ve seen how many more people have been hardest hit by the lockdown and the extension. Food security for a lot of poor families is a problem and we are grateful to all those who have contributed to the cause. We are always in need of items for food items like maize meal to make pap and porridge. Through the aid from ward councillor, Pete Graham we’ve been able to feed those most vulnerable seven days a week.
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“Obviously the soup kitchen is entirely dependent on food donations so we welcome any help we get. I think as the word has spread because other organisations like the Domino Foundation and Rural Communities Supplies South Africa have also contributed. We normally serve soup, samp and rice on different days and it has made an impact on the residents in the township,” he said.
Ward councillor Graham has also used his PBO, Singakwazi Aid, to aid the residents in this testing time. Last week he delivered hundreds of loaves of bread to the soup kitchen for hungry families.
“Through donations we’ve been able to help not only Khabazela Village but Mount Moriah and other areas affected by the coronavirus pandemic. It’s heartbreaking to get messages from residents saying ‘we are hungry, please help’.
“Through Singakwazi we’ve really been able to make a difference during the nationwide lockdown and we call on residents and companies to continue to support our efforts when the lockdown is lifted as help is always needed in impoverished communities. We were also able to bring a few boxes of Easter eggs for the children of Khabazela,” Graham said.
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If you would like to donate towards the soup kitchen, contact Pete Graham on 082 881 0082 or email durbanward110@outlook.com or contact the community leader, Dumile on 061 820 1938.
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