Food for Cape Town's children, students and elderly
Ancil Syms and Vanessa have been part of El Shaddai Christian Church (ESCC) for many years. Ancil, who holds a Doctorate in Education Policy Development, felt a strong calling during Covid to reach out to those who had absolutely nothing. He was willing to go into these communities, and throughout the lockdown he was one of those who became the hands and feet of the church, delivering food that ESCC was able to provide.
When lockdown ended, Ancil chose to continue this work. With his connections to both students and the elderly, he would often reach out to let us know where the need was. To ensure the food parcels were not only filling but also healthy, we had a dietitian design a nutritious guideline for each bag. Ansel then faithfully delivered these food parcels to those in need, continuing the ministry from time to time.
“As a child that comes from the Northern Cape, we know exactly what it means to have nothing. We also also know what it’s like to have a lot. In my field of work, I come across people who don’t have any food, basic food.
And my heart especially goes out to the elderly, the grandparents that have to look after grandchildren with the little money they get from SASSA (South African Social Security Agency).
It started during Covid and ESCC came alongside to help many people, especially many children and the elderly with food parcels.
Every time we receive food parcels the recipient changes. In one instance, we supplied six food parcels to families in Mannenberg, but because of the need, eight families divided this between them. The drop off point is Vanguard Mall because it’s too dangerous for me to go into Mannenberg.
Then we have six grandparents in Elsie’s River that support their grandchildren and they receive SASA grants and the parcels that we supply gives them food for seven days.”
“Charity starts at home,” says Ancil Sims. ” I have a neighbour who has three children and she doesn’t have a permanent job and we need to support her sometimes to see that she has food. We share with her too.
Then through my work involvement in the broader education fraternity, I’m linked to AFDA University in Observatory.
There are students that come to study life performance, drama and acting and they come from all over, especially the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and North West Province and they reside somewhere in Cape Town.
AFDA University has an office with a student manager named Lana and we supply her with food parcels and when a student needs something to eat, or when there’s nothing, then they approach Lana.
Where I work, there are six workers from Dunoon and Philippi that earn very little and we share food parcels with them.
We often deliver the food parcels with people we don’t know, but we know we’ve made people smile.
I want to thank Bruce, the elders and the rest of El Shaddai Christian Church that give from the heart and with an open hand. God will reward you one day.
Glory to God and thank you very much. Thank you very much, may God Bless you.”