Jenny and Frans step away from soup kitchen

Jenny and Frans Schneigansz together served the Itemba Soup Kitchen in Primrose for a total of 27 years.

The couple, in their 70s, is well known in the community for their warm reception and community outreach projects.

Also read: iThemba more than just a soup kitchen

Officially retiring from the soup kitchen, they take a step back from managing the soup kitchen to being part-time overseers.
Jenny said due to Covid-19 they had to take a step away from the soup kitchen to recover from the virus.

“We tested positive late last year. Frans was in ICU for nine days and on supplementary oxygen for three months,” said Jenny.

“It was impossible for us to carry on so John Proctor and Rene Sidebottom had to take over. They have been running it and all the systems are still in place,” she said.
Jenny started her journey with the soup kitchen in 2005 when she joined as a volunteer at Primrose East Dutch Reform Church.

Also read: Soup kitchen helps those who need it most

“The soup kitchen was started in 1999 by two women in the church congregation. It is one of the longest-running charities in the area,” said Jenny.

“It started by cooking five litres of soup to feed 20 plus people and now we prepare 150 litres of thick soup and feed 330 plus people three times a week,” she explained.

Over the years Jenny played a vital role in keeping the soup kitchen operational and functional.
She believes it was not through her power but that of God who has been providing for all their needs.

“God has kept pace with His blessings and every need has always been supplied. The other day we had no bread, yet a surprise delivery of 100 loaves of bread came through,” said Jenny.
“When I took over the kitchen there was one fridge and one stove. Now we plenty of equipment,” she said.
Her mentor was Riette Krige.

“Over the years when I did something I always think about what would she have done. Her husband was well known in the communities of Primrose, Bedfordview and Edenvale as Dr Krige,” said Jenny.

She emphasised the need for donations to continue serving the community.
“We have a good relationship with other charity organisations. We always share our donations with retirement villages and Dare-to-Care soup kitchen in Klopper Park and they also share with us. The Ackermans Pharmacy has supported us for the past five years,” she said.

“Clothing we cannot use we sell and we use the money to buy supplies for the soup kitchen. We also have a number of sponsors coming through on Mandela Day,” Jenny said.

“The support of the soccer boys is still going to continue. Everyone says it’s Mama Jenny’s soccer team. I also love baking and I am doing that more often since I stepped away from the soup kitchen,” she said.

“I miss the morning sermons and prayers by Issac Ramphele,” said Jenny.
Frans joined his wife in the kitchen after he retired.

“I liked it. The people are amazing and every day there is something or someone new. Everyone calls her mama Jenny and they are starting to miss having her around,” said Frans.

“She has her way with people. I will miss coming to the kitchen and helping where I can.”
The couple will still be available to assist the soup kitchen.