GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality supplies 145 soup kitchens in the municipal area with dry ingredients to provide at least three nutritious meals to hungry children, people on chronic medication and frail elderly people three times a week.
This calculates to almost 121 000 mouths being fed monthly.
The George council is aware of the dire need in the communities and started the project to bring relief to people who cannot fend for themselves. Chronically ill people are referred by the clinics to the nearest soup kitchen in their area.
According to coordinator Yuleen Campher, the soup kitchens are run from home by volunteers. "The volunteers receive no compensation for the service they provide. One can actually say this is done for the love of it. So I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our aunties who manage the soup kitchens and prepare all the meals with much love."
There is currently a waiting list for soup kitchens as provision is only available for the existing 145 kitchens.
Prior to a soup kitchen being opened, an investigation must take place to ensure that the applicant adheres to the conditions stipulated in the municipal policy. Weekly monitoring is also done at all of the soup kitchens.
Veronique Ferndale (centre), one of the coordinators of the project, with some children and adults at the Rosedale soup kitchen.
To find out where your closest soup kitchen is, or to apply to run a soup kitchen, visit the Social Service office on the corner of St John's Street and Varing Avenue. Veronique Ferndale and Yuleen Campher are responsible for the project and any valid complaint about any of the soup kitchens can be reported to them on 044 802 2000.
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