Provide nutrition for 500 families in South Africa

Dearest friends,

Because of your kindness, generosity, and care, we have been able to distribute 16163 food parcels and 101502 servings of bread and soup to date this year.

Every number tells a story. Behind every parcel, there is a direct link to YOU. Every dollar contributed has impacted thousands of lives. Your contributions purchase the food — but they do so much more than that.

Right now, there is a queue outside our Nutrition Unit. People gathered early this morning, patiently waiting for their turn. Some are frail and elderly; some are young, yet carry burdens heavier than most could bear.

In the kitchen, our ladies are buzzing around, cutting bread and preparing parcels. Jossita (our very special Head of Nutrition) is singing. She has a beautiful voice and a smile that could light up a city. As people approach the hatch to receive their food, she still finds time for a quick chat.
“Hello, Aunty Fillys,” she says as she packs the parcel ingredients into a bag. “How is your leg now? Is the wound healing, my love?”
And so it goes throughout the morning. We constantly hear little moments of care:
“Give the children a hug from us!”
“Your hair looks so nice today!”
“Here you go — walk safely now.”

By early afternoon the crowd has gone, and the food has made its way into homes and families. Jossita is still singing as she cleans up and begins preparing for the next day.

In a small brick home, about two kilometres from the Centre, Xoliswa, a woman in her thirties, has just returned with her family’s food parcel. Her mother suffered a stroke some time ago and is unable to communicate using words — yet she is always smiling. Xoliswa sets off to light the primus stove to heat up the soup. Gently, she helps her mom sit up and feeds her. Afterwards, she opens her medicine and gives her some water to take it with. Tomorrow she will bring her mom to the Care Centre to see the doctor and for a session of physiotherapy to strengthen her arms and hands.

Xoliswa is an excellent caregiver — but she needs help too. She managed to escape a violent and abusive relationship, yet she is haunted by past trauma, the strain of caring for her bedridden mother, and the endless worry of finding money to survive.

She has made an appointment with our social worker, where she will receive counselling. She can earn tokens by volunteering at the Centre or by enrolling in a skills course. Our caregivers can check in on her dear mother while she is away.

Without the food to sustain them, no other growth, healing, or potential would be possible. And it is all because of people like you who remember them. In the crowd there are hundreds of people — every single one with an incredible life story. And every single one of them is filled with gratitude for the unseen people who are physically miles away, yet who live in our hearts and whose names go up in thanksgiving every day.

From all of us at Missionvale — from the hands that prepare the food, to the families who receive it, and the quiet prayers spoken over every meal — thank you. Your generosity does not simply fill plates; it restores dignity, strengthens hope, and reminds people that they are not forgotten. We could not do this without you, and we are endlessly grateful for the love you pour into our community, one meal, one family, and one life at a time.

With deep thanks and warm hearts,
The Missionvale Care Centre Team

Links:

• Connect with us on LinkedIn!

Dear friends,

A recent article in the Daily Maverick highlighted the devastating reality of child starvation in our city — and the heartbreaking truth that things are getting worse. It was a sobering read, and a stark reminder of why our work matters so deeply. Where would we be if it were not for you, our faithful supporters actively working to assist us in alleviating this?

This week, we were reminded that this specific project, is about much, much more than food.

A young girl arrived two days ago, looking a little lost in the crowd waiting outside our nutrition unit. Every day our staff meet hundreds of people desperate for something to eat. Through a large serving hatch in our kitchen, people are welcomed by our incredible staff — their kindness and cheerful presence received just as thankfully as the nourishing meals they offer.

The two ladies serving our people are Jossita and Mama Buru, two extraordinary women who serve with boundless care and compassion.

From the kitchen, Jossita noticed this young girl turning to leave. Something about her caught her attention - the torn dress, the absence of underwear, the vacant look in her eyes. Without hesitation, Jossita ran out and gently coaxed her back.

She asked simple questions: What’s your name? Where do you live? But the girl couldn’t remember. She didn’t know her surname. She couldn’t say where she came from.

From our warehouse, Jossita was able to get some warm clothing for her, and Mama Buru stayed with her and gave her some food. It was painfully easy to see how hungry she was. Our social worker and admin staff were called in. We tried to converse with her, but all she could say was her name was Sibongile. She referred to several of our staff as her sister, and even called a few “mama”. She had a rash on her hands and what appeared to be bruising on her face, so we called our nurse to assess and treat her.

I think what struck me most is how at home she felt with everyone at the Centre. We all were just so grateful that she was in a safe place, at least for the moment.

We did not know what to do next, so we called the local police and our friends at the Gender Based Violence Centre. Two officers came, and thankfully one remembered a very similar girl arriving at their station in New Brighton a week ago. New Brighton is a township more than an hour’s walk away from us, and as it turns out, where she stays.

We learnt that she has a developmental disability which explains why she could not give us information about herself. The police officers waited until our nurse was satisfied, and took her home safely. Social workers have been appointed to look into her home circumstances, as it’s clear there aren’t sufficient safeguards in place to protect her.

Your contributions did not just provide a meal for a young girl.

It rescued her.

Thank you, from all of us at the Missionvale Care Centre — and from Sibongile, who may not have the words, but whose smile said it all.                                                                    

Links:

• Article in the Daily Maverick
• Connect with us on LinkedIn!