East church soup kitchen keeps souls of the needy warm
This time, the soup kitchen was coupled with health checks for the recipients.
Mamelodi Central Methodist Church hosted a soup kitchen for the needy locals on Tuesday morning.
However, this time, the soup kitchen was coupled with health checks for the recipients, who are the poorest members of the community.
Professional staff members of Synexus clinical research company were on hand to assess common ailments such as high blood pressure, glucose levels as well as sharing information on how the community should take care of their health.
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The community members, including the elderly people from surrounding communities in Mamelodi West, came in their numbers to attend the event.
One of the facilitators of the soup kitchen, Martha Maila said the poverty alleviation project has been running at the church for years.
She said it was started by the women in prayer group (Manyano) at the church as a poverty alleviation intervention but after a while, the whole church became involved, turning it into a community project to feed impoverished individuals and clothe them.
The soup kitchen takes place twice a month on Tuesdays and more than 70 families are fed.
Maila said everyone in the church was taking part in the soup kitchen either by donating money or helping with the preparation and serving of meals.
Maila said she was excited that on Tuesday, members of Synexus “arrived and helped to check the health of the community members we feed”.
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Veronica Mogashoa from Synexus Mamelodi branch said her team was on hand to support the church and to educate the community members about their health.
“We conducted health screenings for blood pressure, glucose and other ailments and we also advised them how to take care of their health.
“We also did referrals to the nearest clinics, but most importantly, we advised the elderly people to stop sharing medication as they do not know the side effects,” said Mogashoa.
“We also advised the community members to always exercise and eat healthy food in order to keep their health in good condition at all times.
“They must also have enough sleep because it is good for their health and avoid stress at all times at home.”
Resident minister the Rev. Jacob Mokhutso said he was excited by the Synexus intervention and appreciated what was done for the community.
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He also encouraged the church members to keep up the good work by continuously giving generously.
Community members were also allowed to take home left-over food for their family members unable to attend.
The church regularly provides food parcels for needy families as well as clothes around Christmas and blankets in winter.
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