12-Year-Old Jesse Turns Jars of Hope into Warm Meals for Families in Need

Photo Credit: Gigi Roper

One Grade 7 learner’s mission to collect and fill 100 Jars of Hope has beautifully shown how kindness, determination and community support can turn simple dry ingredients into comfort for Macassar families in need.

Somerset West, South Africa (27 August 2026) – Acts of kindness should always be celebrated. When they come from the hearts of children, they are all the more special, and the one in this story is no different!

When Somerset House learner Jesse Thurman finally reached the age and grade to be part of the school’s voluntary Grade 7 Leadership Programme, he knew he wanted to be the kind of leader who makes a real difference.

The school’s programme is run throughout the year and invites learners to participate in and complete various tasks that fall under five pillars of leadership. One of the tasks involves organising a project that serves the community.

So, Jesse decided to do a Jars of Hope drive, which involves filling empty glass jars with dry ingredients like rice, lentils, soup mix such as barley, soup powder and a stock cube. Once cooked, each jar makes a hearty soup or stew that can feed a family of three.

Jesse set a goal to collect enough ingredients to fill 100 jars and went about doing just that!

He made posters and reached out to his immediate community, neighbourhood, friends, family and school, asking for donations of old jars and ingredients.

“The response we had was quite amazing,” Ciska Thurman, Jesse’s mom, tells us.

“He spent a good couple of weeks going to various houses and places to collect the items he’d requested, washing jars and using his maths skills to measure how many kilograms of the ingredients he’d need for the jars.”

Thanks to the kindness and support of his local community, Jesse managed to collect about R2,500 worth of ingredients for 100 jars.

Once all the jars were filled and sorted with the help of loved ones, Gigi Roper, another local hero who does a lot of work to support the people and animals in the community of Macassar, connected Jesse and Ciska with families in need.

“Gigi got involved and organised to have the jars collected and distributed in an informal settlement in Macassar last week – which was wonderful for Jesse to witness and be a part of,” Ciska shares.

Gigi, too, was deeply moved by the 12-year-old’s beautiful gesture. Following weeks of collections and busy afternoons of getting everything ready, the heartfelt effort came full circle when the jars were placed in the hands of families who knew their next warm meal was secured.

Proud mom Ciska describes Jesse’s big heart.

“He notices and feels the needs of others acutely. As a kid who is privileged enough not to worry about where his next meal is coming from, this was an invaluable lesson in imagining how he could make a tangible impact – and then putting that into practice. It was wonderful to see him reach his goal.”

Ciska thanked the school for the valuable programme, Gigi for being the connector of it all, and every generous supporter who donated to the cause, bringing not only sustenance but also warmth and compassion to so many families.