QUEEN’S Soup Kitchen on Parkside Avenue was a hive of activity last week as SA Harvest and the Cell C South African Rugby Legends Association (SARLA) delivered food to bring some festive cheer to those in need.

The soup kitchen, which was started in 2019, is staffed by volunteers including founder Elsie Schoeman, and helps feed more than 450 people three times a week.

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Schoeman works with SA Harvest, who sponsor fresh produce weekly and soup mixes and other goods on an ad-hoc basis when stock is available.

“This is such a massive honour for us. For the rugby legends and SA Harvest to do this is a dream. We feed three times a week and our Christmas lunch, where we feed 1 700 people. Because we help people from all over the community we try and do a hearty meal, a chicken curry to ensure everyone gets a nutritious meal. We are so grateful to them as this donation will go a long way to helping feed the community,” Schoeman said.

Chiara Henry, the KZN operations consultant for SA Harvest, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) committed to ending hunger and reducing food waste, also gave some insight into the support shown on the day.

“This was a chance for all our stakeholders who partner with SA Harvest to give back. We know about the amazing work that Elsie and her team of volunteers do at the soup kitchen and it was important for us to continue that support. We also visited the Siphila Ngomusa, an organisation that provides meals for the homeless. The response from everyone involved was fantastic,” Henry said.

Brad Macleod-Henderson of the Cell C SA Rugby Legends echoed those sentiments.

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“It was a great opportunity for us as rugby legends to bring about some festive cheer for those in need. We are all about growing the game of rugby but we also want to grow our country and give back to those less fortunate. We hope this will bring a bit of cheer and happiness in the community. It is fantastic to have our sponsors with us supporting us in this venture. It was also a great way to learn more about the soup kitchen and the work they do. We hope to be back again next year,” he said.

The Legends also signed two Springbok jerseys and a rugby ball donated to the kitchen.

If you would like to assist Queen’s Soup Kitchen, contact Elsie Schoeman on 060 751 9699 or email her at queenssoupkitchen@gmail.com.

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