South Africans are overwhelmed by various cruel crimes and politics daily, but it can take just one kind deed to change it all.
Good Samaritan Alison Loumeau from Florida explains why she is dedicated to helping those less fortunate on a weekly basis and how serious unemployment in the country is.
Since June 2012 her aim has been to hand out food to approximately 110 people every Friday at 9.30am at the Dutch Reformed Church in Witpoortjie.
“When I was employed as an estate agent at Knight Estates, every single day on my way to work I would see men sitting on street corners trying to find someone to employ them for the day to earn enough to be able to buy something to eat just to survive,” she explains.
“South Africa’s unemployment levels are so high that the chance of finding full-time employment is severely limited. I was touched to see how these men in their shabby and inadequate clothing were trying to do something positive instead of resorting to crime. I couldn’t ignore their pain, hunger, homelessness and hopelessness that faced me daily, and do nothing.
“The thought that I was too small to make a difference reminded me of the saying ‘If you think you are too small to make a difference, remember the effect one small mosquito can have in a dark, closed bedroom. Therefore morally, ethically and just as a human being I have to be the best I could be and try to make a positive difference in someone’s life.
“I told Marie Jacobs, a colleague, that I wanted to start a soup kitchen in the area, as there were a lot of men on a lot of the street corners close by.
“Marie put me in contact with Ds Arnold Smith, who was very excited about the idea. He offered me the use of the churchyard, polystyrene cups, his support, and encouraged me to go ahead and make the vision a reality. I realised how simple it could be to start and run a soup kitchen.
“I arranged a different sponsor for each week of the month; I really am grateful to Knight Estates, Dykes van Heerden, and Louise Tonkin Inc, and especially Palm Court Spar that provides us with their day-old bakery stock every week.
“The soup kitchen opens every Friday at 9.30, but you will see men starting to queue an hour before the time to get something to eat. One gentleman told me that this was the first food he had eaten in three days, so how could I not do something?
“Unfortunately one of our sponsors pulled out last month, so we desperately need a company or private individual to provide thirty loaves of bread and either apples, oranges or bananas for approximately 100-110 hungry people once a month. This would cost about R500 per month, but you will be making a difference in over 100 peoples’ lives by providing maybe their only meal in three days. Please don’t do nothing when you are able to make a huge, huge difference.
“To Marie Jacobs, Annette Kylander, Chris Dykes, Susan, Yvonne, Marina, Ds Smith, Channel, Santie, Petra and every other helper: thank you, thank you, thank you.
“Together we can reach out and make a difference to the hungry, homeless and hopeful men.”
