Pensioner cooks for Nellmapius community
Diana Tshabalala (64) feeds more than 60 children and adults twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
A Nellmapius pensioner is making a difference by cooking for needy children and adults in her community.
Diana Tshabalala (64) from Nellmapius extension 2 started a soup kitchen in her area after lockdown was announced.
She started the soup kitchen in the first week of lockdown catering for a small group on Saturdays when community members would drive to her house to collect food.
Today, she feeds more than 60 children and adults twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Tshabalala is the mother of two boys. She used to work for a law firm for the past 18 years and used her pension fund money and social grant money to cook for the local community.
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On Wednesdays, she would cook soup served with bread and on Saturdays she prepares fresh meals.
According to her, the number of people she feeds is growing almost by the day.
She said she is driven by her affection for young children.
“I don’t want see young children suffer or go to bed on empty stomachs,” she told Rekord.
“When God blesses you, he blesses you to become a blesser to other people too.”
She said Nellmapius is growing fast and has many unemployed people with small children to feed.
“Each day is hard, but by the grace of God I manage to cook something for the children mostly coming back to school as well as their parents.”
“But I need donations to help my soup kitchen because I believe that I can do much more.”
Tshabalala said her children are very supportive.
“They also help with preparing the food and neighbours would also help cook and occasionally donate something to keep the soup kitchen running each week.
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“I don’t expect anything in return since the food is free for anyone who is hungry; the smiles on the children’s faces after a warm meal is rewarding enough for me,” she said.
Other donations she receives from friends and family members.
Tshabalala pleaded with the local businessmen and spaza shop owners to help with donations.
Tshabalala runs her service from the corner of Malebo and Vergewe streets, next to an open veld she personally cleared to make space for her soup kitchen.
“Although we are at level 1, we always make sure that community members including children stick to the rules and regulations of Covid-19 and always wear masks and sanitise their hands.”
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