Women determined to continue with soup kitchen serving seniors in Yeoville
"We have elderly people travelling from as far as Berea for a plate of food and some are wheelchair bound."
Phuthadishaba, a non-governmental organisation in Yeoville issued a plea for donations.
The NGO was founded in April this year by Slindile Skhakhane, Mamoshotse Tagane and Joyce Goenha to help feed pensioners from Yeoville and surrounds.
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Tagane told the EXPRESS that the organisation came about after she noticed the number of elderly residents waiting in long queues for medication at the Yeoville Clinic.
“I sell fruit and vegetables next to the clinic and realised the elderly people wait long hours in queues to get medication from the clinic. They often don’t have food and they travel long distances. With the profit I made from selling fruit and vegetables I started cooking for them,” said Tagane.
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She said with the assistance of Slindile and Joyce, Phuthadishaba was later registered as an NGO.
Pensioners receive three meals a day served by the women at the Yeoville Recreational Centre.
Goenha said they cook for 21 pensioners every day.
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“I am also concerned about pensioners who do not have transport. We have elderly people travelling from as far as Berea for a plate of food and some are wheelchair bound. Sometimes sponsors contact us to collect vegetables but we do not have transport,” she said.
The women said they often hire cars in order to collect food donated by people.
“We also teach pensioners extramural activities. They knit and sew,” said Goenha.
“The room we use at the recreational centre is becoming too small because we cook, do extramural activities and run the NGO from there. We need a place where we can accommodate everyone,” said Tagane.
The three women hope to find sponsorship for a bigger venue from where they can run the soup kitchen.
They also need a bigger stove, sewing machine and groceries to continue their service to the elderly in Yeoville.
Those who wish to assist can contact Skakhane on 082 628 3489, Tagane on 073 946 0156 or Goenha on 062 605 9343.
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