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United Methodist women feed community
from FFL - March 2023
by wmcouncil
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, shutting down global economies, two United Methodist women started a soup kitchen in their home to feed disadvantaged children.
Nokwanda Keleku and Vuyelwa Thanda noticed a need in Philippi, a township community in Cape Town, South Africa.
“It all started after Vuyelwa and I witnessed kids fighting on the street over a vetkoek (a small, unsweetened cake of deep-fried dough),” said Keleku. “This gave birth to the idea of starting a soup kitchen.”
Low-income communities were particularly hard hit by strict lockdown rules as poor families faced income loss and food insecurities.
“We started witnessing kids and parents going doorto-door asking for mealie meal to prepare food for the day,” Thanda recalled. “We approached the church for financial support. Sadly, the church didn’t have funds available for such an initiative.”
Undeterred, the women started Masakhane Soup Kitchen in 2020. “Masakhane” means “Let’s build one another.” Thanda and Keleku used their own funds to buy ingredients. On the first day, 150 children were fed.
The Rev. Ntambozoxolo Nkomo, pastor-in-charge of The United Methodist Church’s Cape Town Circuit, said he visited often when the soup kitchen began.
“I used to go to Masakhane to pray with kids and read them the Bible before they received their meals,” said Nkomo. “This also strengthened the evangelism they were getting in the form of food.”
Christopher Mondleki, Cape Town Circuit lay leader, saw the potential of the food ministry.
“After witnessing great works being done by our church members, I knew this project was the answer for our community,” he said. “The church started supporting the project, and as we speak, Cape Town Circuit is part of this great initiative.
“A lot of families are being assisted, and with full and enough resources, we can do more.”
Seventh-grader Imikuthi Booi is grateful for the soup kitchen. “Since the beginning of Masakhane Soup Kitchen in 2020, I come here daily to enjoy different types of cooked meals that I don’t get at home.”
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