As a result of the massive increases in the prices of heating, medicine, and especially food, life has become increasingly difficult in Eger as well. The number of families in need of assistance has risen, and single people have also found themselves in greater difficulty than before. The price hikes are also putting aid organizations in a difficult position.
The next distribution of holiday food and groceries will take place on December 19 at the distribution site of the “Food for Life” humanitarian program.

Next Sunday, the Christmas Feast of Love—a humanitarian program called “Food for Life” organized by Krishna-conscious devotees—will be held in the county seat. In addition to serving hot bean soup, they will also distribute donations collected during the three-day non-perishable food drive in Eger organized by the Hungarian Food Bank Association in November. The relief effort is being organized for 650 registered recipients in the inner courtyard of Tűzoltó Square from 11to 2 p.m. in the inner courtyard of Tűzoltó Square, where those in need will be called in at different time slots to avoid large gatherings and ensure social distancing.

The “Food for Life” Food Assistance Program was launched in 1999 in the county seat with the goal of providing meals to needy, socially disadvantaged, and sick children in the region. Over the past decades, these goals have been achieved through food distribution, the operation of free kitchens, assistance to residents of disaster-stricken areas, and the organization of child nutrition programs. The program is primarily funded by donations from private individuals under the SZJA1% tax deduction and by support from the Krishna Church.

As part of the „Like a Bite of Bread” program, non-perishable food items were delivered door-to-door to numerous small towns in Heves County on several occasions in 2020 and 2021. Since 2017, half a thousand free meals and baked goods have been distributed daily in Eger. Last year, the number of people receiving assistance rose to 600, and one in every four or five clients sought help due to the consequences of the coronavirus. This year, the number of people in need has grown even further, so providing for 650 people required even greater effort and twice as much money, said Olivér Nyolcas, the Eger director of the Food for Life Foundation.

The 2.5 metric tons of non-perishable food collected during a donation drive held at a supermarket in Eger from November 19 to 21 will be distributed on December 19, along with additional items. In addition to hot meals, toys, and clothing donations, the food packages will include oil, sugar, flour, canned goods, pasta, dairy products, baked goods, fruit, and sweets—which is what turns the aid package into a Christmas gift.

You can support the work of the Food for Life Program through volunteer work and donations here: www.eteltazeletert.hu

In addition, you can send a monetary donation to the foundation via text message by sending the code 33 to the 13600 donation line. Each text message or call contributes 500 forints.