A Blackheath father says he wants to pay it forward by feeding his community after a good Samaritan responded to his cry for help.
Jason de Vries is now feeding hungry mense in his area seven days a week, after he struggled to feed his own family.
At the start of the national lockdown in March, the desperate dad took to Facebook where he admitted that he had no money and no food in his home to feed his two children, his girlfriend and their cat.
Jason, 29, says a generous donor who saw his post sent him R10 000.
But instead of just buying food for his family, the father decided to use the money to buy groceries and make up food parcels for his community.
Jason says he lost his job as a spray painter due to the lockdown and was down and out when he decided to ask for help on Facebook.
“I was extremely hungry. I had nothing but prayer. After the post as I was praying, I received a message on Facebook from a man that saw my message. He saw I was begging for food and he sent me R10 000 to help.”
In his post, Jason said: “I am crying literally while typing. Me and family didn’t eat for 2 days, there is no way. It’s saddens me as the man of the house. I’m trying to get something but no one has. My boss can’t even lend me money. My faith is still strong but my body feels weak, but I must keep my head high for my family and cat. Can you please help us? I even tried to get someone’s car, maybe I can spray it for a nice price.”
Jason says he was taken by surprise by the donor’s offer and at first thought it was a joke.
He says they made contact and the money was transferred via e-wallet.
He says the donor who resides in Saudi Arabia wishes to remain anonymous.
“He sent me a big amount of money, R10 000. I was shocked and I asked God to direct me with this money, but I immediately thought of the poor people around me,” he says.
“I took all that money and made food parcels for them. I used every single cent and then I had nothing again. I just started asking people again and God blessed me again, I knew I had to repeat this cycle to feed others.
“Today, I’m feeding kids and old people seven days a week with either soup or hot foods, but I’m struggling to get more sponsors and donations.”
A grateful Neil Swarts, 84, from Blackheath, says Jason is a God send: “I was brought to tears when I received the parcel, some nights we would go to sleep with nothing to eat, but since Jason is feeding people, we are getting some relief.”
To assist Jason, call him on 067 926 9839.