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HUNGER ALLEVIATION TEAM: UNEMPLOYED TRIO START SOUP KITCHEN
Feeding the needy RICHARD ROBERTS @richardjohn_rj
T
he Covid-19 pandemic has seen a few people step up and help those who are less fortu-
nate. One of those individuals is Parow West resident Robin-Lee Raffels (24) who started her very own soup kitchen initiative, the Hunger Alleviation Team, or Hat. Through this initiative Raffels along with two others have been able to feed some 4 000 people with bowls of soup since June when the project was started. In the first week alone the group managed to provide 250 bowls. Robin says until now it has been a joy to help feed the needy. “Feeding those less fortunate has been something that I have been wanting to do for a very long time, since it is something really close to my heart,” Robin-Lee says. With the help of her mother, Jacky Raffels (47) and their neighbour, Jocelyn Hendricks (50), they have been able to help many since the start of the pandemic. “Many people have lost their jobs and some even lost their homes and have nothing to eat. We knew that we were not able to help everyone, but I thought we should try and make a difference in at least a few people’s lives,” RobinLee says. Hat started off with just three pots of soup and a few clothing items. “Today we are honoured to have provided more than 4 000 bowls of soup as well as sandwiches to the less fortunate. We not only help those who are destitute, but have also reached out to the Holy Cross
Children’s Home in Ravensmead.” The home recently experienced a devastating fire. Robin-Lee says they also assist the Elim Night Shelter in Elsies River. She says they drop off clothing and warm meals at the two organisations at least once a week. Apart from the two organisations Hat also visits a few areas within Parow and Bellville where they serve soup to homeless people from the back seat of their cars. The trio does this despite adverse weather, Robin-Lee says. “In most of the cases we are only able to serve one warm meal. These people have crept so deeply into our hearts that we will give our last to see those smiles on their faces,” she says. They are however, in need of help. Robin-Lee says due to a lack of finances they are only able to serve soup on Tuesdays and Thursdays. People who can assist with providing either vegetables for soup, tinned fish and rice, clothing, a monetary donation, or even just a helping hand can get in touch with the team. “We will be able to serve more than just twice a week.” The team has registered their non-profit organisation and has already reached out to companies, but this process takes time, says Robin-Lee. “We have not received much donations thus far, so most of what goes into the initiative comes from our own pockets. Bear in mind we are all unemployed,” she says. V To help, send an email to raffels23@gmail.com.
“These people have crept so deeply into our hearts that we will give our last to see those smiles on their faces”.
The Hunger Alleviation Team are from left Jocelyn Hendricks, Jacky Raffels and her daughter, Robin-Lee Raffels, the founder of the NPO.