A couple from Richwood, Olivia Vigilatis and Veronica Bezuidenhout, has started helping needy residents of Cape Town by preparing and distributing budget meals.
Recently, this couple gained attention online when they distributed inexpensive meals from the Shoprite store to homeless people and job seekers on the streets. Olivia shared that her main job is in graphic design, but she has always had a passion for cooking.
With her wife's support, she prepares hearty lunches for children's homes, homeless shelters, and job seekers. Vigilatis explained that her love for cooking grew during the Covid pandemic when they began helping people in their community and witnessed the difficult situation.
"My wife and I started cooking food, and sometimes we would attract people to help us, and then distribute these meals among people waiting for work so they could feed their families," she shared. "I want to support people who are trying to provide for themselves."
Although the couple conducts most of their charitable activities in Richwood, Botassig, and Tableview, they also support children's homes, SASSA pensioners, and nursing homes.
"We try to provide meals at least once a month and whenever we can. We don't post everything on social media, but sometimes I can go live on TikTok so people can see what we are doing," added Vigilatis. "We do everything out of our own pockets, but we have received some donations, which is great because then we can give more."
The couple recently went viral online after purchasing 50 meals for an amount equivalent to 310 Rand at the Shoprite store. Vigilatis emphasized that the most important thing for her is the ability to give someone food, knowing that they will not go hungry until the end of the day. She noted that many people go to sleep hoping for a meal, and if she and Veronica can be that small change in someone's life, she will certainly do it, as people are very grateful and respectful.
