Spread warmth this winter season
Fred and Martie's Soup Kitchen is asking willing community members for donations to help them prepare for their winter outreaches.
When we are feeling down and out, we rely on the warmth of our support systems to help us through the difficult times. There are however, several community members who need to rely on strangers for the warmth and support we receive from our loved ones.
Fred and Martie’s Soup Kitchen has been providing support to desperate community members since 1977, and not even the peak of a global pandemic held them back. In 2020 alone, this organisation fed more than 600 hungry children and elderly people who felt forgotten in such a busy world. Yolindie and Riaan Oberholzer, who now run the soup kitchen since Fred (Yolindie’s father) passed away, spend every day working to make sure that the vulnerable people on their radar are fed, dressed, educated, loved, kept warm and kept safe.
The soup kitchen and NPO is asking any willing community members to help them prepare for their winter outreaches. The expected icy winter months are fast approaching; the crisp, cold air already being felt most nights. They are asking for assistance with the donation or collection of warm clothing, blankets, scarves, beanies and gloves for the children and elderly residents they support.
If you have extra food or grocery items that can assist them with putting together their food parcels, they would be extremely grateful as well. They need tinned food, toiletries, rice, salt, coffee, tea, sugar, soup powder and soya products.
In 2020 Fred and Martie’s Soup kitchen did the following:
• Provided 126 000 meals to less fortunate children and elderly community members
• Packed and distributed more than 4 000 food parcels
• Packed and delivered 21 000 lunch boxes for children
• Handed out 572 blankets to children and elderly people
• Provided 300 people with winter jerseys and socks
• Assisted 65 parents with school fees and uniforms
• Provided stationery and school bags for more than 300 children
• Provided 100 children with school shoes
• Handed out more than 1 000 face masks
• Handed out 500 Covid-19 hygiene care packages
• Hosted a Christmas lunch for 152 destitute elderly people
• Hosted a Christmas party for 625 vulnerable children
Section IT18A certificates can be issued for tax purposes for any financial donations. To find out more about the soup kitchen or if you are able to assist, email yolindie@sopkombuis.com or call Yolindie on 082 854 6904 or Riaan on 082 786 8517.
“We appeal to you to please consider bringing warmth, smiles and a dash of kindness to those vulnerable elderly folk at Fred and Martie’s Soup Kitchen,” concluded Yolindie.
