North Coast’s lockdown ‘soup-a-heroes’ celebrate soup miracle

Dubbed the Soup Miracle, the rallying of the community behind The North Coast Courier Orphan Fund soup drive saw to the feeding of countless people affected by the lockdown.

Held at Brettenwood Woody’s Café last weekend, local ‘soup-a-heroes’ were celebrated at a talk to give feedback on how efforts have progressed over the last five months.

Since lockdown began, the soup drive collected and distributed nearly 25 000 litres of soup, something which Orphan Fund founder Rose Stephenson has called a miracle.

“Miracles happen around us all the time, but often we do not acknowledge them nor give God the glory.

“You have all been part of a miracle whether you knew it or not,” said Stephenson, adding that acknowledgement of the collective efforts should also go to the community.

“This has been a community initiative, not one of the Orphan Fund, not an All Souls Church, Doccra or Brettenwood one. God used willing hands and feet to do His miracle.”

Affectionately referred to as ‘soup-a-heroes’, North Coast locals have quite literally through their collective efforts ensured that thousands of people had a warm meal before bed, many of these living in child-headed homes.

And it was not only soup that was distributed, with even Umhlali Saps seeing to the distribution of much-needed dry foods, baby formula and a wide range of necessities such as soaps and ladies’ sanitary items.

Brettenwood Soups organiser, Karen Doveton shared during the feedback session that the efforts of the community had been ‘biblical’.

“We now know that the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the massive inequalities in our societies, across the globe.

“It has brought into the fore, the dark side of our own country – increased unemployment, and the knock-on effects of poverty, and hunger.”

But Doveton said the community did not hesitate to ask how they could help.

Non-profits and charities with regular feeding schemes had no idea how they would continue with efforts to get meals to those in need, after it was announced that the country would go into lockdown.

But according to organisers, God opened that door at the 11th hour.

“We applaud everyone for stepping up and turning an idea into a reality.

“We celebrate people from all walks of life in our community for coming together to do something meaningful and kind for our fellow mankind” she said.

Doveton said the soup drive saw countless residents pull together, sharing kitchens and deep freezes to better stock up ahead of deliveries.

To date, it is estimated that nearly R1.2 million in donations had been received and distributed – ranging from dry foods to clothing, masks and bread.

Some 24 718 litres of soup were distributed, along with 1 662 loaves of bread, 345 dry food packs, 487 dry soup packs, 53 blankets, 180 bags of clothes and 460 infant food packs between March 26 and August 31.

While the Soup Drive has run its course, collections for dry food continue at All Souls Church and Docrra have since started the Dolphin Coast Outreach project which aims to continue with the collection and distribution of soup.

More than 250 litres of soup have already been collected.

To find out how you can help, contact Deon Viljoen at 082 558 8788.