Keeping Hout Bay together, one meal at a time

Hout Bay resident Vivienne Wichman's  Salamander Road home has become a sanctuary for the hungry and a place of upliftment for those in need.

Aunty Viv's Soup Kitchen, spearheaded by Ms Wichman, 69, has garnered immense support since its inception in 2019, serving members of the Hangberg community in need of a meal.

Every day, hundreds of people gather outside her door for a meal.

Aunty Viv, as she is affectionately known by the community, started the soup kitchen after she noticed the number of children in her neighbourhood going hungry.

She began using her pension to buy ingredients, transforming her home into a makeshift kitchen where she could prepare meals for them.

"I saw a need to help, and it's nothing to help somebody in need. When I saw how many people actually needed the help, I just could not stop and wanted to do more," she reflected, her voice tinged with emotion," she said.

Today, Aunty Viv’s efforts provide essential meals not only to children but also to entire families. 

However, the growing number of beneficiaries has put immense pressure on Aunty Viv's operations. Despite the outpouring of goodwill and support from local donors, she often finds herself facing the reality of having to turn away people due to a lack of resources.

"It's something I try hard not to do, but it becomes really difficult at times because people have become really dependent on this meal," she said.

Miriam Oliver, a resident and active supporter of the soup kitchen, echoed Aunty Viv’s concerns regarding increasing hunger in the community.

"We have had to start telling people that there will be no food today, and that is something that does not sit well with Aunty Viv," she said, adding that there is a dire need for a more sustainable solution to address the escalating demand.

As rain pours down, many steadfastly wait outside the soup kitchen, illustrating the desperation felt throughout Hout Bay.

"People are really suffering out there, and if Aunty Viv could help everyone, she really would," Ms Oliver said.

The need for additional resources remains critical, as supporters strive to ensure that no one leaves without a meal.

Among those reliant on the soup kitchen is Raymond "Ray" Collins, who describes Aunty Viv as a "guardian angel."

"I have two smaller children, and I would always be given extra food to take home to them. That is the difference. Anybody can give you food, but Aunty Viv gets to know all the people from a personal point of view," he said.

"There are many people struggling or even trying to make it work out there, so places like this give those people hope. It gives me hope every day," Mr Collins said.

To support Aunty Viv's Soup Kitchen, call Miriam on 071 045 6390 or Aunty Viv on 076 813 2984.