Restoring hope and dignity to destitute people, one meal at a time.
Our Dignity Kitchens in Cape Town and Johannesburg provide hundreds and hundreds of destitute and displaced people with healthy hot meals served by volunteers weekly.
With over 3,500 meals served weekly, every soup kitchen touches lives with love, dignity and respect. In the spirit of ubuntu, whether you are one of our guests needing food, or a volunteer preparing or serving the a meal – it is a humbling experience that fills your heart and feeds your soul.
What you can expect as one of our Dignity Kitchen volunteers, is to feel the social barriers that exist between us break down and you will connect with people as humans, regardless of their gender, colour or religion – in a meaningful way. Being in service to people less fortunate is an uplifting experience and the social camaraderie with fellow volunteers both local and international, makes you feel good, doing good for good.
Dignity Kitchen is a soup kitchen where everyone benefits and together as ‘love activists’ we restore dignity and instil hope for a better tomorrow.
How did Ladles of Love’s Dignity Kitchen start? It was serving one bowl of soup to a homeless man. During a fierce Cape Town winter in 2014, Danny Diliberto a local restaurateur – had a vision to perform an act of ‘seva’ and cook food for the homeless community, which would touch the lives of people in need with love, dignity and respect. Danny rallied volunteers and his first soup kitchen on St Georges Mall served 70 meals to homeless people and seeing the incredible impact of a hot bowl of soup one destitute man, Danny founded Ladles of Love.
Sponsor a Soup Kitchen
Did you know you can sponsor a soup kitchen? Your brand/business can join in on the joy of sharing dignity and respect, one bowl at a time.
To enquire about partnerships, please email us directly at info@ladlesoflove.org.za.
When and where
Currently, we run four volunteer soup kitchens a week in Cape Town. Our team prepares fresh vegetable soup, and our volunteers serve it to the waiting guests along with fresh bread and a drink.
Tuesdays & Thursdays
16:45
The Ladles of Love Roeland Street kitchen
at The Hope Exchange
Click here to book a volunteering spot
Wednesdays
16:45
The Ladles of Love Roeland Street kitchen
at The Hope Exchange
Saturdays
11:30
The Ladles of Love Roeland Street kitchen
at The Hope Exchange
If you’re not in Cape Town, but would still like to get involved, see how else you can help.
Soup Kitchen FAQs
Not sure what to expect when you volunteer at a Ladles of Love Soup Kitchen? We answer some of the questions we get asked most often.
Why volunteer at a soup kitchen?
It’s a great way to contribute to our community. It provides an ideal opportunity to:
- give back
- understand some of the complex issues around homelessness
- make a difference
- meet new friends and connect with people from all walks of life
It’s a way to feel good about yourself, to show you care, and to help make Cape Town a better place to live for everyone.
What must I bring with me when I volunteer?
You can bring an apron if you like, however do provide plastic aprons if needed.
Do I have to register to volunteer?
Yes, you need to book a slot here in order for us to manage and schedule.
How long does the kitchen last?
Each serving session lasts 60-90 minutes, depending on how many guests we have to serve that day.
When do these kitchens happen?
There are four different times you can join:
- Tuesday @ 16:45 – Our Roeland Street kitchen at The Hope Exchange
- Wednesday @ 16:45 – Our Roeland Street kitchen at The Hope Exchange
- Thursday @ 16:45 – Our Roeland Street kitchen at The Hope Exchange
- Saturday @ 11:30 – Our Roeland Street kitchen at The Hope Exchange (No volunteering currently)
Can I bring my friends and family along?
Yes, everyone is welcome, but remember to get them to register here first before showing up.
What sort of tasks might I be given?
Soup kitchen volunteer duties include setting up our pop-up serving station, ladling soup, slicing bread, pouring drinks, serving food, managing the queues, and cleaning up. You may also be asked to run our sanitising station.
Do the kitchens still happen if there is bad weather?
People really do rely on our soup kitchen, and Cape Town has notoriously unpredictable weather! We don’t let that stop us though – all Ladles of Love operated kitchens happen every week without fail, come rain or shine. No matter the weather, we’ll be there. We also run our kitchens as usual on any days that fall on public holidays.
Can I store my valuables safely during a soup kitchen?
We do have a room where valuables and handbags etc can be stored, however we do not take responsibility. We recommend you bring what you need only.
Any other questions? Drop us an email.
