Mini Butchery in the Springs CBD has committed to supporting the soup kitchen run by the Jesus Christ Apostolic Church, providing fresh produce and necessities to help feed people in the community.

With this commitment from the butchery, the church is serving vulnerable people in Springs more often.

Speaking to the Springs Advertiser, the butchery’s manager, Renaldo Castanho, said the business wanted to give back to the community.

“So the initial thought was to give back to the community under the premise of Ubuntu, to give without expecting anything in return,” said Castanho.

He said the idea was supported by his father, who eventually decided the business should donate to the church’s soup kitchen.

The sponsorship will continue until further notice, with Castanho saying the business intends to maintain its support for as long as possible.

The support includes fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as necessities needed by the soup kitchen. For Castanho, the initiative is also a way for the business to show gratitude to the community that supports it.

He believes partnerships between local businesses and churches can play an important role in strengthening communities.

“I would say it is important because it definitely heals the community. You know, with any underlying issues and whatnot, the church definitely heals the broken and the lost and really brings the community together,” said Castanho.

He encouraged other businesses to support community initiatives when they could.

“Give what you can and then God will do the rest,” he said.

The church’s pastor, Mphikeleli Radebe, told the publication that he is grateful to the local businesses that are helping the church grow its soup kitchen.

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The church used to feed the vulnerable people of Springs once a month, but with the sponsorships, it now feeds every Wednesday. Radebe expressed that at the beginning, it was hard, but through hard work and knocking on the right doors, they can feed people weekly.

“Our aim as a church is to feed them daily. And with these feedings, we know it is one way to curb crime in the area, because people commit crimes to feed themselves.

“We are also going to provide classes to those who want to learn new skills so they can learn and create employment for themselves,” said the pastor.

Radebe shared that their hope for the soup kitchen is to grow and feed other vulnerable people in surrounding areas.