Manenberg Corps, soldiers, and friends gathered after the morning service on Christmas Day to spread and share practical love by serving a nutritious meal to boys, girls, men, and women from the local community. Manenberg is a place where the majority of the people live on social grants and pensions. The Salvation Army brought smiles to many families who were uncertain about what their Christmas Day would look like, let alone having a meal.
The Salvation Army based in community of Manenberg, where drugs, alcohol, poverty, and gang violence are the daily realities for many, felt it essential to share love and hope on Christmas Day—heart to God, hand to man. We also had the opportunity to go door-to-door to visit elderly people who are currently not physically well, sharing a prayer and a word of encouragement with them. The “buckets of love” provided to the elderly were a real blessing, as they allowed for meaningful conversations and carried the message of assurance that God is faithful and always present, especially in times of uncertainty.
At the end of our Christmas Day community outreach, we gave praise and thanks to God for the opportunity to serve and bring hope to many.
Highlights of the Christmas Day Outreach:
- 150 takeaway dishes of cooked food were distributed to the community.
- 10 buckets of love containing groceries, provided by DHQ, were distributed to the elderly.
- 18 carrier bags of groceries were also given to several families, totaling around 250 individuals.
Our second phase of this activity will take place on New Year’s Day, 1st January 2025, continuing our mission of bringing love and sharing hope within our community. On behalf of the Manenberg Corps, we would like to thank our leaders and the Salvation Army for upholding the vision of the founder of The Salvation Army: Soap, Soup, Salvation.