A newly-launched non-profit company (NPC) fed over 200 students at its first soup kitchen on Mandela Day.
This is according to Francisca Darkoh, an MSc (Physiological Sciences) student at SU and the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of ShareBite, which hosted the soup kitchen at Russel Botman House, an SU residence, on 18 July. SMF News was in attendance.
ShareBite is an NPC led by a team of five SU students, according to Darkoh.
“We are rescuing surplus food from anywhere where we can,” said Nothando Ndlovu, a third-year BA (Social Work) student at Stellenbosch University (SU) and operations manager of ShareBite. “And then we make them into meals and give it back to students who are in need.”
Meals are mainly cooked by the ShareBite team and their volunteers, according to Ndlovu.
Volunteers serve food at the first soup kitchen hosted by ShareBite, a local non-profit company (NPC). Students were required to register for the soup kitchen on the ShareBite website in advance and, although 200 people registered, plans were in place to accommodate those who arrived but had not registered, according to Francisca Darkoh, an MSc (Physiological Sciences) student at Stellenbosch University and the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of ShareBite. PHOTO: Iman Allie
All of ShareBite’s soup kitchens will be located on SU premises and will be held monthly, mainly on public holidays, said Ndlovu.
ShareBite is non-discriminatory and its soup kitchens are open to all students, but they are required to take their own initiative in registering for and lining up at the soup kitchens, according to Darkoh.
A collective effort
The ShareBite team and its volunteers served food into SU students’ personal lunchboxes, which they were asked to bring along, according to Darkoh.
Other volunteers included employees from Matie Shop, who also donated money towards the soup kitchen, according to Leila Salie, graphic designer and social media portfolio holder at Matie Shop.
Greenpeace Foundation South Africa donated fruit, vegetables, chicken, rolls, and cakes to the soup kitchen, according to Tamara de Wet, founder and director of Greenpeace Foundation South Africa.
“The aim [of ShareBite] is basically to have points where people can collect food,” said Ndlovu. “Also, where they can donate food and give back to people that need food.”
Volunteers serve food to Stellenbosch University (SU) students at ShareBite’s first soup kitchen on 18 July. ShareBite is a non-profit company (NPC) aiming to feed SU students by repurposing surplus food, according to Nothando Ndlovu, a third-year BA (Social Work) student at SU and operations manager of ShareBite. From left to right: Jordan Meyer, a warehouse assistant at Matie Shop, Ezile Mcetywa, a third-year BScAgric (Animal Sciences) student at SU, and Keegan Muller, a warehouse assistant at Matie Shop. PHOTO: Iman Allie
From FOODBYFRANNIDEE to ShareBite
“Today’s soup kitchen was essentially giving back to the community in spirit of Mandela Day’s 67 minutes […] and also to launch ShareBite,” said Ndlovu on the goal of the soup kitchen.
The team rebranded this year, registering themselves as an NPC, according to Ndlovu.
The ShareBite team formerly held monthly soup kitchens under Darkoh’s personal catering business, FOODBYFRANNIDEE, according to Darkoh.
“It showed us how much of a problem we have, that there’s so much food insecurity among students,” said Darkoh on her experience running FOODBYFRANNIDEE. “And when it comes to feeding schemes, they don’t focus on students. They focus on the homeless and elderly and people from rural areas.”
Students line up outside Russel Botman House, a Stellenbosch University (SU) residence, to receive food at the first soup kitchen hosted by Sharebite, a non-profit company (NPC), on 18 July. The soup kitchen is the NPC’s Mandela Day initiative, according to Nothando Ndlovu, a third-year BA (Social Work) student at SU and operations manager of ShareBite. PHOTO: Iman Allie