Halls donation helps Mayibuye woman continue feeding vulnerable residents

In Mayibuye, one woman has turned her compassion into action by cooking warm, nutritious meals for vulnerable residents facing hunger, homelessness, and hardship during the cold winter season.

For the past three years, community hero Relebohile Evelyn Thapelo has quietly dedicated herself to feeding people in need, using whatever resources she can gather to prepare meals for anyone who arrives hungry at her home.

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Now, her efforts have received a boost after, Halls, donated a gas stove and cooking pots to support her growing community initiative. Thapelo said her mission had always been simple. “No one should go to sleep hungry,” she said. “I don’t like seeing people suffering with no food in their stomachs. That is why I cook for my  community whenever I have something to provide.”

Unlike traditional soup kitchens, Thapelo focuses on preparing full, nutritious  meals aimed at promoting healthier living among vulnerable residents. “I  won’t call it a soup kitchen because I cook full meals for healthy living.”

Her cooking initiative mainly supports homeless residents, unemployed  community members, and people struggling with substance abuse and food  insecurity. “The purpose of cooking initiatives is to promote health and foster  community connection for those who are homeless in my community…I dish  out food to everyone who passes by because sharing is  caring.”

Thapelo said poverty, unemployment, lack of housing, social isolation, and  substance abuse continued to affect many residents in Mayibuye, especially  during winter when families also struggled with rising heating and electricity  costs. “The high cost of heating leaves many households feeling powerless  and chilly,” she said.

What started as a small effort serving meals once a month has gradually  grown into a trusted community support initiative. “At first, I was cooking once  a month, but now it depends on when I have money because people keep  asking when they are going to have dinner again.”

With support from the Halls campaign, Thapelo hopes the donated cooking equipment will help her continue assisting vulnerable residents during Gauteng’s harsh winter months.

She believes small acts of kindness can help strengthen struggling  communities.