Muscle Tower Gym soup kitchen helps feed those in need

Muscle Tower Gym has returned to its usual spot in Thembisa for its second annual soup kitchen, continuing its outreach programme aimed at supporting vulnerable members of the community as winter approaches.

On April 18, the gym team visited a known hotspot referred to as Aromat in Thembisa, where they distributed food and clothing to people in need.

The initiative focused particularly on providing warm clothing and meals to assist homeless individuals ahead of the colder months.

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The gesture was well received by community members, with organisers noting that donated clothing would go a long way in helping people stay warm during winter.

The issue of homelessness in Thembisa remains a growing concern, with some individuals displaced due to addiction challenges, while others have lost homes as a result of fires, particularly in informal settlements.

Muscle Gym ambassador Miyelani Manganyi said the donations were made possible through a combination of community contributions and previous campaign efforts.

“We ran campaigns to get donations, especially bread from previous donors who assisted last year. We also received support from McDonald’s, and we chipped in as well,” said Manganyi.

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He added that the initiative is driven by the gym’s connection to the community.

“As a gym, the inspiration to help people comes from the environment we are from. We see this community as our family. Daily we see children and people struggling, and as we approach winter we want to bridge that gap,” he said.

Manganyi said that while this year’s donations were smaller compared to last year, the team remains committed to continuing the initiative.

“We are happy with what we have, and sharing it with the community remains our mandate. Last year we raised more, but the goal has not changed; we want to keep helping those in need,” he said.
He added that the team intentionally returned to the same location as last year due to the high level of need in the area.

“We chose this spot because we know it is a hotspot for people in need. When we come here, we know the food will be finished, which is the goal,” he said.

Manganyi also appealed for additional support, particularly in the form of blankets and warm clothing for future outreach efforts.

The founder of Muscle Tower Gym, Nkosinathi Nkomo, said the initiative was inspired by gratitude towards the Thembisa community for supporting the gym’s early growth.

“The gesture comes from the help we received from the community when we were preparing for our first Miss Muscle Tower event. We thought a soup kitchen would be the best way of showing appreciation,” said Nkomo.

He added that the initiative has grown beyond a once-off project, with ongoing community demand for more frequent outreach programmes.