Jar of Hope – A fitting name for a purposeful initiative.
In a heartfelt endeavour to support the vulnerable communities within the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley, Val de Vie Evergreen residents came together to make a difference. Through the Jar of Hope initiative, led by Val de Vie Evergreen resident David Finkelstein, they donated 240 soup jars to the Val de Vie Foundation, which were then distributed to the Gratefulness Soup Kitchen in Mbekweni.
By reusing clean glass containers, they packed each container with nourishing dry soup ingredients. Adding the contents to 3 litres of hot water creates a hearty soup meal for a family of four. After being involved in a similar project in Cape Town, David saw an opportunity to bring this initiative to the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley when he and his wife moved to Val de Vie Evergreen about 18 months ago.
The project gained enthusiastic support from the Val de Vie Evergreen residents, who started contributing empty coffee bottles and dry soup ingredients. “Our Val de Vie Evergreen neighbours got enthusiastically involved, and the empty coffee bottles and dry soup ingredients started pouring in. I approached our local Checkers branch at the Drakenstein Centre, who were also helpful with a donation,” said David.
Mandela Day presented the perfect opportunity to boost this effort. Deborah Hill, another dedicated resident, suggested involving the vibrant Val de Vie Evergreen community members in a hands-on activity. On this special day, the Val de Vie Evergreen residents gathered at their Clubhouse to pack 240 jars with a dry soup mix. These 240 jars translate to almost 1,000 meals, which were distributed to the vulnerable.
The event was not only productive but also a fun and unifying experience for all involved. David expressed his thanks to the Val de Vie Evergreen residents: “My grateful thanks to all who participated in the fun evening at the Clubhouse. Hopefully, we can keep the momentum going to provide these meals, especially during the winter months with the extreme weather we are currently experiencing.”
