Jenny Meerholz of Barberton Christian Forum (BCF) writes:
We were able to continue with our soup kitchen the Wednesday and were able to feed and give food parcels to 110 people with the supplies we had removed from the bungalow.
More than a week ago, the thatched roof of one of the bungalows, occupied by BCF at the NG Kerk’s grounds, caught fire. Fortunately none of the supplies inside were destroyed and their deep freezer, tables and chairs are also still intact.
It was a miracle. We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to Jan Jansen van Vuuren and his two assistants who fought the flames in the cold, windy conditions in the early hours of the morning. They prevented the flames from spreading to the CMR bungalow next to it.
We were overwhelmed by the assistance we received from relative strangers who brought their own hosepipes and continued to douse the thatch after the fire engine left. These men, who are foreigners from Germany and the UK, went beyond our wildest dreams and even helped us to take the contents to other places for safe keeping. They truly restored my faith in humanity.
Thank you to the committee members and their husbands and friends, who put their plans aside to assist and to give support that Saturday morning.
We also were given the use of a truck in order to clean up the thatch afterwards. We are truly grateful to the church board that made another place available to us on its grounds at short notice.
We were able to continue with our soup kitchen the Wednesday and were able to feed and give food parcels to 110 people with the supplies we had removed from the bungalow.
Thank you to all who bring us soup on a weekly basis, and who have donated bread. Barberton Mines gives a monthly contribution of mealie meal, soup mix, beans and cold-drink mix; Pick n Pay donates foodstuffs that have reached their sell-by date or have been damaged; Una Edmeades of the Jock of the Bushveld Centre sent us clothing collected in the large box outside Pick n Pay.
We also contribute food and blankets to various local organisations. We recently received blankets from Ellies and bags of old clothes from Nomads Bowls.
Without all of you we could not have kept going for more than six years. We are still in need of old clothes, and would greatly appreciate any donations. God is so good and once again we stand in awe of His protection and favour.
Enquiries: Jenny Meerholz on 061-410-7157.
