For just over a year, our foundation has been providing daily support to disadvantaged residents of Budapest’s 7th District; however, with Christmas approaching, we have now organized a special evening for all of them in addition to our regular assistance. The event was made possible through a collaboration between local municipal representatives and our foundation.

Since November 2012, we have been distributing food to hundreds of residents in Erzsébetváros. Experts from local government agencies notify those most in need about the daily meal service. At the soup kitchen on Rózsa Street, people can pick up hot meals during the midday hours, which they can then enjoy at home with their families. Through this type of cooperation between the public and private sectors, a smooth and highly effective social assistance program is being implemented, with clear long-term results.

One of the most memorable moments of our collaboration was the Advent evening held on December 13, to which the local residents who receive food assistance were invited by the local government to celebrate this special occasion. The opening remarks were delivered by Mónika Rónaszékiné Keresztes, a local council member and member of parliament, who praised our foundation’s high-quality, exemplary work and effective assistance, and highlighted the shared goals of the local government and our foundation. During the remainder of the evening, children who are devotees of Krishna performed live music on traditional Indian instruments on stage, followed by the serving of a two-course dinner. We had the opportunity to build closer relationships with our regular guests, listen to their thoughts, offer other forms of assistance, and bond with the children, whom we rarely have the chance to meet on a daily basis.

During the Advent season, our organization devotes greater effort to ensuring that our regular recipients can also celebrate in a fitting manner, since, without sufficient financial resources, the increased expenses associated with both winter and the holidays pose a serious challenge for those who eat at our facility. We strive, to the best of our ability, to ensure they have appropriate clothing, the necessary food for their families, and healthy Christmas treats. Whenever possible, we also like to give the children a useful toy or book.