In Eger and the surrounding area, 750 of our fellow citizens can count on the work of Krishna devotees who distribute food; this service is available to those in need every weekday. On December 16, in addition to a hot lunch, non-perishable food packages containing cooking ingredients and holiday treats will be distributed to those in need. This will be the 35th “Food for Food” Christmas Charity Feast.
In addition to their spiritual practices, devotees of Krishna place great emphasis on charitable work. Each year, nearly 180,000 servings of hot meals are being distributed in Eger and the surrounding area as part of the Food for Life Program. They believe that charitable work also enriches the lives of believers, since spiritual knowledge is fully realized in practice through selfless devotion to others and service to the world.
It's impossible to keep up with the expenses
The country's economy faced numerous challenges in 2023, including those caused by the war an economic recession, rising energy prices, and inflation. These factors had a significant impact on people’s lives, which everyone experienced firsthand:
– Due to inflation, the population’s real income—that is, its purchasing power—showed a downward trend. The real value of wages and pensions declined, so people could afford to buy less. According to data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), average gross earnings rose by approximately 10% during the year; however, this increase was not sufficient to raise real wages. Financial hardship also causes stress and mental strain for families.
– Prices for food, fuel, and other essential goods have also skyrocketed. As a result, the population has had to spend more on their daily living expenses, which lowers their standard of living. In December 2023, consumer prices were 17.8 percent higher than a year earlier; this inflation rate is the highest in the past 32 years.
The energy and price crises also pose challenges for charitable and social service organizations. Although the people of Eger remain as generous as ever, their financial means are becoming increasingly limited. The Govinda restaurant, which prepares the one-dish meals distributed through the food assistance program operating costs have increased fivefold compared to last year.
„We’ve exhausted our full capacity and used up our reserves, but the We won't let 750 people in need down! ”We will continue the program to the very end!" – says Olivér Nyolcas, head of the Foundation’s office in Eger.
Among those receiving assistance are people on small pensions, those with large families, and those living alone, but they are all socially disadvantaged. For some, unemployment, chronic illness, the cost of their children’s education, medication expenses, mounting debt, a divorce and the resulting family crisis, or even the cost of heating fuel pose serious financial challenges.
Christmas Gift Distribution in Eger
„We’ve also gathered enough volunteers who will lovingly distribute lunch and non-perishable food items. There will be helpers from nearly every age group, from children to seniors. At this year’s Christmas Feast of Love, The menu features vegetarian Székely cabbage with soy cubes, served with fresh bread and pastries. The approximately 1,200 kg of non-perishable food donations collected in November at a department store in Eger—as part of the Hungarian Food Bank’s campaign—will also be distributed. Of course, we’ll supplement this with additional food items. ”All of this brings a little warmth into people’s homes and makes the holiday season a little easier for those in need,” said Olivér.
Since the Foundation undertakes a public service function, it is eligible for normative funding; however, this covers only about 40% of the cost of preparing the meals. The organization must cover the cost of purchasing the non-perishable food items included in the Christmas food aid packages on its own, and individual donations and tax-deductible contributions provide tremendous support in this regard.
In our country, 3,000 of our fellow citizens rely on the work of Krishna devotees who distribute food every day. To ensure that the food packages contain a wide variety of healthy foods despite rising food prices, they are also asking for help from donors! With 5,000 forints, you can provide a holiday lunch for a family of four, and with 8,000 forints, you can support their generous food package.
„We are very grateful to our major donors who donate large quantities of essential staple foods. Financial donations are also a great help—we can use them to cover fuel, organizational, and procurement costs!”” – emphasizes the Foundation’s representative.
This year’s holiday event will be held in Eger at the distribution point on Tűzoltó Square for guests who have previously registered with Eger’s “Food for Life” program, on December 16, starting at 11:00 a.m. During the event, 750 servings of hot meals and food packages will be prepared for families in need.
_____________
The photos were taken at last year's Christmas food drive by László "Tas" Balogh.