After having started a soup kitchen in February this year, Nadeema Vermeulen now feeds 450 people, including children, every Tuesday.
She opted to start her own soup kitchen at her home in Flora Street when she wanted to make a difference in her community and surrounding areas.
“Before my soup kitchen young and old came knocking at my gate asking for a piece of bread or something to eat. We all know what the effect of the Covid pandemic is on all of us and my husband Karriem and I decided to share whatever was in the house with the needy,” she says.
The day she decided to start her own soup kitchen was the first week in February when her mom visited her for a few days.
“She asked me what we are having for lunch the same time two people asked me for food at the gate. I have never turned anyone away and that is when I decided to start my own soup kitchen. I realise how many people are living in poverty, are unemployed and some even reverted to becoming street people as they could not handle the circumstances they are in.
“With my soup kitchen I am trying to make a difference in my community. The soup kitchen is held on Tuesdays and I started with 75 people and currently I am feeding 450 people, including children. The ingredients for the soup kitchen are kindly donated by family, friends, neighbours and extended family and friends, as I don’t have any permanent sponsors, only donations,” Vermeulen says.
To expand her soup kitchen she needs assistance with gas refills, 100 litre pots, non-perishable goods like rice, peas, pasta, cooking oil, sugar, vegetables and containers for the food.
“If I get maize meal, potatoes and other ingredients in abundance, I fill plastic bags or food parcels and distribute it in the community. Children and adults who come to the soup kitchen are from Woodlands and surrounding areas.
“The children are from schools in Woodlands and will pop in on their way home for the meal on a Tuesday.
“I feel honoured and privileged to do this for our community and surrounding areas. I want to thank all donors who stood by me since February for their unconditional support,” she says.
She says that most of the children pop around after school and bring their own containers to take the food home for parents and other children.
“With the help of my family and friends I try to do the best I can but if there are donors or businesses who wants to donate, they can contact me any time. We need to help each other in our communities and nothing is too small donate. Even if you bring a bag of oranges or potatoes, it will fill a pot or we can hand it out to the children. My number is 082 332 2761,” she says.
