Unemployed Mams man donates food parcels
Thabang Tshabalala wants to operate a soup kitchen and pleads for food donations.
Meet Thabang Tshabalala (37) from Mamelodi West Section C4, who shares the little that he has with his community.
Thabang is the founder of the Tshwane Community Development Organisation, which he started seven years ago while he lived in Lotus Gardens to feed disadvantaged families.
However, four years ago he moved to Mamelodi, where he continued to help the needy with food parcels every Wednesday.
Speaking to Tshabalala, he said he was inspired by a woman from Atteridgeville who used to feed the needy with her own money.
He said seeing people suffering daily and going through so many challenges, especially elderly people who are staying with their grandchildren, inspired him to start the organisation.
Tshabalala is currently unemployed, and when he started his organisation to feed the poor, he used the profit from his business selling mango achar.
He said the woman from Atteridgeville could not stand to see people go to sleep on an empty stomach, and giving them food parcels was part of giving back to the community.
“The aim is to help those who are in need, and helping the needy also helps me too,” he said.
Moving to Mamelodi four years ago did not stop him from feeding the needy.
Today, he feeds more than 16 families every Wednesday in Mamelodi West Section C4 and surrounding areas, and the number is growing almost every week.
He receives donated food parcels from Pick n Pack every Wednesday.
The residents receive a variety of food depending on what Pick n Pay donates: fruit, bread, veggies, maize meal and custard.
At this moment, his dream is to operate a soup kitchen on Wednesday morning because he wants the elderly people to cook while their stomachs are full.
Anyone who wishes to help with food donations can contact Thabang Tshabalala on 076 378 8749.
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