„I’ll stretch my small pension to last half a year… if it weren’t for this package, I’d have to cling to a tree just to keep from slipping any further down.”
An elderly gentleman said this last year at a charity meal in the capital, as he carefully clutched his package of non-perishable food. There was nothing theatrical about it—just the raw reality: There are people for whom a package like this provides a lifeline for months – sometimes even for half a year.
That is precisely why we need to come together again this year. Because these stories aren’t far away—they aren’t just in the news—but live right here among us. The Food for Life program aims to provide them with at least a little relief—a few days’ worth of supplies, sometimes enough to last weeks or even months.
This year, we would like to distribute 10,000 holiday meals and several thousand packages of non-perishable food
The Krishna devotees’ food program for the poor provides shelter to thousands of people every year during the holiday season. This year, the goal is to:
– 10,000 servings of a festive hot lunch spread out,
– and thousands of packages of non-perishable food deliver them to those in need across the country by Christmas.
More and more families are struggling to make ends meet
Rising living costs, uncertain job prospects, low pensions, or a chronic illness are no longer just temporary hardships. For many people, they threaten their overall quality of life.
And at Christmas, it’s especially painful when the holiday isn’t about cozy preparations but about survival.
The "Food for Life" program aims to alleviate precisely this: to give hope for those who have been living on the brink of uncertainty for some time now.
The 37th annual Christmas food drive is coming up—in seven cities, at multiple locations
Our organization is preparing for its 37th annual Christmas food drive this year. This is the largest nationwide campaign of the year, with Eger, Szeged, Bonyhád, Békéscsaba, and Debrecen participating alongside Budapest.
– Three locations in Budapest are open to those in need
– There will be a St. Nicholas Day gift distribution in Szeged, featuring a personal visit from St. Nicholas.
– A Christmas program for children lasting several hours is being held in Békéscsaba for 80–100 families.
The large “Feast of Love” in the capital will be hosted by Népliget, which has been operating successfully for several years now. On the three days of Christmas—the 24th through the 26th—we’ll be welcoming guests in need with food packages and a surprise.
Venues for the "Feast of Love" event series:
📍 November 29 – Budapest, 3rd District
📍 December 5 Szeged (Distribution of St. Nicholas gifts)
📍 December 6 Eger
📍 December 13. Budapest, Garay Square
📍 December 14 – Szeged
📍 December 19 – Bonyhád
📍 December 21 – Debrecen
📍 December – Békéscsaba, Csabagyöngye, with children's activities
📍 December 24–25–26 – Budapest, Népliget
What's in a food package?
Our packages contain 15–17 carefully selected, non-perishable food items—not just quantity, but real help. In addition to basic kitchen staples (flour, oil, milk, margarine), the package also includes lentils, pasta, ground walnuts, pickles, dates, sweet-and-salty treats, fiber-rich juice, and mustard. A package like this provides enough provisions to last for days or even weeks, and brings a touch of flavor to the daily lives of those who don’t even have the opportunity to cook.
We're not slowing down in January either
While most organizations take a break at the beginning of the year, the Food for Life program remains active even then. The end of winter is the hardest time of year for many people, which is why the food distributions in January have been of particular importance for years.
The exact dates and locations will be available soon, but preparations are already underway.
Together, we can make such fates more bearable
Every year, the elderly gentleman’s words serve as a reminder: a food package is more than just food. Safety, time, a moment of peace.
Perhaps no one can solve every problem, but we can all take a step that makes a huge difference in the lives of others.
This year's initiative requires community cooperation.
Even a contribution of just a few thousand forints can help provide a care package or a hot holiday meal.
Support our work here: segitsteis.hu