Soup kitchen hosts kindness events to help spread hope
Fred and Martie's Soup Kitchen hosts Carnival and Sunflower Christmas events to support the community.
The Fred and Martie’s Soup Kitchen brought joy to 686 children and 98 elderly people during the festive season through their annual carnival and sunflower Christmas events.
The non-profit organisation has been a beacon of hope for underprivileged communities for 43 years, and this heartfelt initiative has been a tradition for the past 30 years.
According to Yolandie Oberholzer, owner and daughter of founders Fred and Martie Hughes, last year’s Christmas events were a combined effort from kind-hearted donors and volunteers across the whole of the West Rand and as far as Potchefstroom.
The children’s Christmas carnival, held on the premises of the soup kitchen, featured a range of fun activities, including jumping castles, magic mirrors and a big wave slide. Each child received a meal, treats and a gift.
On the other hand, the Sunflower Christmas event for the elderly offered a special meal, live entertainment, and a beautiful gift, as well as a Christmas food hamper.
“Every year we start with nothing, and then through lots of prayers, God’s grace, and kind-hearted people, it all comes together in perfect festive harmony for our children in these beautiful, deserving communities. I’m a firm believer that Christmas does not come from a store; it comes from the hearts of kind-hearted people,” Yolandie says.
Throughout the year, the organisation also hosts various initiatives and events.
“Our current focus is the Backpacks of Hope back-to-school drive. Other initiatives include Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Winter Drive, Youth Day, Mandela Day, Socktober, Knowvember, and Christmas programmes. We also offer team-building opportunities for companies and welcome CSI partnerships. Additionally, we partner with churches for outreach programmes.
“Our mission and vision is to enable sustainable progression in disadvantaged communities through empowering women, the elderly, and the youth living in poverty to become the agents of their own development and make sustainable progress in overcoming desperate hunger and poverty through effective social engagement programs,” she concludes.
