Giving hope to children on the streets and seeing a family’s tearful delight at a roast chicken meal are what drive two good Samaritans to treat more than 150 homeless people to a home-cooked Christmas lunch this festive season.
Steven Grootboom, 42, from Uitenhage, hosted his inaugural Christmas lunch and concert for just more than 100 homeless children at the Allanridge Civic Centre on Friday.
And Redhouse resident Rene Cury, 32, along with her brother Grant and her son Johannes van Rooyen, 11, will be spending Christmas Eve cooking up a storm to feed between 60 and 100 homeless people on Christmas Day.
Both Grootboom and Cury spent a large part of their festive season collecting sponsorships from local businesses and residents to provide a worthwhile meal in the spirit of Yuletide.
It is a service they are grateful to provide, particularly Grootboom who, as a young boy, spent more than a decade on the streets himself.
Rejected by his family, Grootboom said it was the grace of God which saved him and compelled him to help others in similar situations.
“When I was much younger I was homeless as well, so I can totally relate to what these kids are experiencing and hence this project is so close to my heart,” Grootboom said.
“I have been doing community work for years but this event is something very special to me. I hope it will change the perspectives of these kids and give them hope again.
“The way the Uitenhage community has assisted with this project is immense and illustrates to these kids the love and support they so desperately deserve.”
Grootboom said after lunch the children would be treated to a concert with several local artists performing, while they interacted with 7de Laan actor Theodore Jantjies (who plays Xander Meintjies) who said he was excited to meet them.
“This type of work has always been close to my heart. The excitement and gratitude these children display truly touches me,” Jantjies said.
“I will be sharing my story with the kids on the day, hoping to inspire them to look beyond their situation and realise their potential.”
Cury said this was the third year they would be driving around Port Elizabeth handing out plates of food, which, she said, had been initiated to honour her late father, Marcel, after he died two years ago.
“We spend the day driving throughout the city with the food packs in our cars and hand them out to any and every homeless person we come across,” Cury said.
“On this year’s menu is roast chicken and potatoes, sweet carrots, rice and gravy, as well as pasta salad.
“It is very fulfilling to see the gratitude on their faces. Last year a family opened the pack and when they saw the food the parents broke into tears.
“It is something my family love doing, even my son, who is our designated veggie peeler,” she said.