About 400 mense had a lekker crispy lunch on Friday afternoon, thanks to the Aurorah Kuils River Community Action Network (CAN).
The organisation received the tasty donation from their local Hungry Lion.
Latifah Jacobs of Aurorah says the meal lifted spirits and brought lots of excitement and gratitude from the beneficiaries.
“It’s rare for us to serve any meat. We normally have soya or something light. Having not just any chicken but Hungry Lion was such a privilege for everyone and we are all grateful.
“We approached various stakeholders for donations and we were amazed when we got this one. It really is something huge and different for our beneficiaries,” she says.
Although Latifah has been a social activist for years, she says the soup kitchen was set up by a group of volunteers in response to the pandemic along with other community upliftment programmes.
“As an organisation, we want to create a network that works closely together, pooling our resources, talents and skills to support and respond to the needs faced by society’s most vulnerable members. The pandemic has taught us that food security does not discriminate. For those who struggled before, the problem has worsened.
“Our kitchen is not just about feeding; food brings peace to any household, we also educate, discipline and promote respect for one another.
“We have won two awards for the year - one being the City Hero award and the other was a Play Your Part Award for poverty upliftment.”
She says since June they have trained youths who have got jobs at call centres and four baristas got jobs while still studying.
She thanked everyone who made it possible for Aurorah to fulfil its mandate in the community.