“The love I have for kids, elders and cooking is what drives me…”
Charmaine Valine a single mother of one. Born and bred in Wattville, Ekurhuleni, Charmaine started a soup kitchen 15 years ago when she noticed the elderly sick people in a local clinic waiting in a long queue for medical attention with no breakfast.
She started this project in 2006 and when other good hearted people like her noticed her beautiful work they started donating some food parcels to her project. Charmaine mentioned that although she gets some donations (food parcels) from people, she’s all alone in the kitchen and that she’s not complaining about it as it is her passion.
As her project went on over the years, Charmaine started to also cook for the kids and the homeless whereby she serves over 70 people per day. She cooks every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the week.
Through her project she comes across challenges like sometimes running out of food – something that breaks her heart because her main focus on this project is to serve everyone in her community. “ The food that I cook is not enough for everyone as the number of people increase every day”.
Fast forward to 2020/21 Charmaine continued with her loving project despite the covid-19 pandemic. “The love I have for kids, elders and cooking is what drives me and that is why covid-19 couldn’t stop me”.
Charmaine Valine would appreciate more donations she can be contacted on this number 072 681 1853.
By Tshepiso Florida
#SAPNews
