More locals help the needy in Eersterust
“I started to make food for the people sleeping at the graveyard because they asked for something to eat”
Since the start of the national lockdown, residents in Eersterust have worked tirelessly to make sure those in need have a warm plate of food each day.
One such a resident was Sophie Williams, or better known as ‘Ma Sophie’, who was now feeding between 700 and 1 000 people daily.
“I started to make food for the people sleeping at the graveyard because they asked for something to eat,” Williams explained.
“My heart is with drug addicts and so I decided to help. However, shortly after the news spread, children from Nantes also asked for food,” she said.
“I did not want to chase them away, so I went to go find someone to help me.”
In her search, Williams found former ward councillor Winston Campbell, who quickly decided to assist her in her journey to assist those in need.
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And thus the Eersterust Helping Hands was born.
“Since day one, Winston has helped me with R1 500 out of his own pocket,” she said.
“However, there is no money left anymore and we need help from other residents to continue helping those in need.
Campbell said: “Ma Sophie has a real passion and compassion for the needy, hungry and destitute members of the community and with her assistance serves people with a delicious, nutritious, home-cooked meal every day.
“Far too many Eersterust residents are now forced to go without food and basic necessities of daily life.”
He said Williams was a multi-talented, resourceful, deeply religious matriarch, with many skills.
“The devastating harm done to children by keeping schools closed, is immeasurable. The mental and cognitive loss as a result of the quarantine and lockdown cannot be overestimated,” Campbell said.
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“The children’s educational development, their cognitive abilities, knowledge, and their retention abilities are negatively affected,” he said.
“These children are losing out on many fronts, especially with regards to the school feeding scheme, which has seen children go without food from this school-related feeding scheme.”
Campbell argued that many parents have lost their jobs, and cannot feed their families, especially their young children.
“According to Fox News, 194 countries are keeping children out of school – that’s basically the entire world,” he said.
“Kids need schooling and classroom learning remains a critically important part of a child’s social education and upbringing.”
Campbell said Sophie Williams and her daughter Essie Louw has “an over-abundance of compassion” and “a deep burning passion” for the plight of the poor and the needy people of Eersterust, especially the poorest people, and drug addicts.
He said they decided against the handing out of food parcels and opted instead for a nutritious, delicious home-cooked meal for residents each day.
“However, Eersterust Helping Hands needs additional funding in order to continue to feed the desperate, the needy and the many hungry residents of the community,” he said.
“Any contribution however big or small will be truly appreciated.”
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