Soup for the soul – a lesson in faith
“My friend Nancy Gibb’s dream inspired me to open up a soup kitchen, to give back to the community,” said Maria Figueiredo.
Maria, along with Lidia Domingues and Yolandi Roberts, run a soup kitchen every second Wednesday from 10 Pienaar Street. “Anyone and everyone are welcome to come have a bowl of soup,” continued Maria.
The soup kitchen started after Nancy told Maria of her dream – “I had a dream, you were in it and it involves food,” said Nancy to Maria.
The soup kitchen feeds roughly 20 mouths at the moment with some coming back for seconds or even thirds. It runs from midday every second Wednesday until about 15:00 in the afternoon.
The soup kitchen started in October last year, someone mentioned to Maria about doing things for the community and after hearing of Nancy’s dream she decided to start up the soup kitchen which runs from the home she rents for her catering business and elderly day care centre.
“Yolandi brings Bibles on behalf of Malachi Ministries and hands them out to everyone that comes for a bowl of soup,” explains Maria.
Their morning starts with peeling the veggies, which are donated by the people of the church as well as any surplus foods Maria has in her storeroom, everything is put into a large pot and Maria adds some secret touches to make a soup that is fit for the soul.
“It’s something to fill the stomach, especially for those that don’t have food, like the guys sitting alongside the street waiting for work,” said Maria.
Sometimes Maria is fortunate enough to receive donations of fruit which she then serves alongside the soup; otherwise it is soup and bread.
“People come knocking at our door on a daily basis and we try to help them as much as we can, but I am glad we can make a positive difference through the soup kitchen,” said Maria.
Maria hopes that the idea of the soup kitchen will take off. “Not having lunch is a horrible feeling, I know it is not everyday that we can help but we do try,” she said.
Lidia added that Maria drives around dropping off flyers inviting people to come to her soup kitchen for a bite.
“She is true caregiver, she goes out of her way to get people to come for lunch,” added Yolandi.
Someone once asked Maria, “How do you know there are no criminals coming for the soup,” to which she replied, “It is not my place to judge, we just want to see people fed.”
