As is almost part and parcel of the festive season, this year our Foundation is trying to bring light to Christmas for those who find it difficult to provide for themselves, with the usual events.
With the current economic situation, more and more of us are waking up to the reality that, however hectic our daily lives, we need to take a closer look around us. In urban life, we tend to grow distant from each other, we never see the same face twice on the bus or tram, we are constantly changing tenants in the flat next door, we don't even want to get to know each other, we always get home late, we struggle to provide for ourselves and our families. But we are beginning to realise that this is not the way to go, because we watch one of our relatives become unemployed, our father and mother barely have enough money to live on, and a friend is trying to live on nursing care for his sick child, but to no avail, we can barely pay the mortgage, and, disregarding fashion, we only buy second-hand clothes, and the only permanent resident of the house, Uncle Gyuszi, has had his apartment foreclosed on because of his utility bills, and his poor head is homeless in his old age. All this is about the city, not to mention the countryside, where there is no work, no municipal assistance, no heating, no warm subways, and where you have to travel miles to the nearest specialist doctor or charity organisation.
But what can we do? We can start by paying more attention to our fellow human beings. This in itself helps them not to lose hope, not to lose their grip, not to go crazy when they find themselves in a difficult situation, to feel that they are alone, like a little finger, with no one to rely on, and that they dare not even admit to themselves that they have become needy and that they must unfortunately join the ranks of those they have always shunned. Then we can go on to bring over the occasional cake, a bowl of soup, help with the shopping if we have a car, tell you if we know of any job opportunities, know of any charities, etc. In short: think of each other and do for each other. In a good society, people do not let each other slide down the slope, even if it is difficult for everyone.
Our food distribution is not only tangible help to those in need, to promote social awareness, to promote the emphasise the importance of looking after each other and it's a pleasure to see that there are people who now, or have been for years, feel the need to help others in some way, for example through us. Either with money, or with what the business can offer, or even with manual labour. All of this is possible and needed again this year. For years now, many well-known personalities have been standing behind the counter to express the importance of solidarity and their compassion: among others, Iván Fischer, Dr. László Domján, Tibor Selmeczi, Péter Huzella, András Laár, Mariann Falusi, Sándor Nyiba Németh.
On 22 December food, parcels and toys will be distributed to the residents of Óbuda in front of the Village Hall near Flórián Square. Here, families and elderly people who receive daily care will receive a Christmas gift package from us, as these families cannot afford extra festive menus and presents. Perhaps we can contribute to ensuring that at least the children do not feel deprived during the holidays.
24-25-26 December from 13h00 in the familiar place, the Blaha Lujza Square This year we will again distribute a warm meal, a rich food parcel, warm clothes and toys for the children. As last year's 1,200 rations a day were just enough, we are building on our experience to provide 1,300 rations a day this year so that no one goes hungry. Anyone can join the queue, we don't discriminate in serving, only drunkenness and bad manners are excluded. (If you are in need, please take our advice and don't come out at the very beginning of the event or hours before. Service is continuous until 4pm, so it's best to arrive between 2pm and 3pm so you don't have to wait in the cold for hours, but still get the same access to your food and parcel.)
The Nógrád County Kisterenyén an all-day Christmas charity day on 15 December at the local community centre will serve 200 portions of bean goulash, bread, tea and fruit for 150-180 children in the afternoon. The programme is organised by the JEROMAF Association (For a Better Life for Roma Youth) for disadvantaged and severely disadvantaged families of Roma origin.
In Borsod county, near the Slovak border Krasznokvajda in your village, at the request of the Hungarian Gypsy Federation, we will help local Roma families in difficulty with warm clothes and fruit in the afternoon of 20 December. The reason for the clothing distribution is that many of the children growing up here cannot go to school because they do not have shoes or suitable clothing to leave home in.
Egerben On Saturday, 22 December, in cooperation with the local family support centre, we will provide a hot meal, bread and fruit to take away for local families in need and single pensioners. The programme, which takes place every Saturday, is held in the area next to the Number Six Primary School, with service starting at 12 noon each Saturday.
A Pécs volunteers will organise this year a hot meal distribution on Sunday evening 16 December at the TÁMASZ Foundation Men's Night Shelter, where between 70 and 100 homeless people are expected. The shelter provides overnight shelter in 12 rooms for 70 homeless people, as well as bathing, laundry, food preparation and social assistance. 100 meals are delivered and distributed, including bean goulash, bread, fruit and sweets.
In Debrecen hot meals are prepared in the Govinda Restaurant located at 2 Magyari Street, and served in the courtyard of the Restaurant. The Christmas campaign will take place on 23 December, and during the event about 300 meals will be served. Around 10% of the people who will arrive are homeless people, mostly large families, who will be taking advantage of the regular meals. The menu will include lentil soup, hot tea, bread, but also clothes and toys for children. The programme will be implemented with the help of cooperating partners, the local Family Support Centre, the Mosolyvirág Large Families Association and SZETA Family Transition Home, who will advertise the opportunity in their offices.
Kecskemét as in previous years, on 23 and 24 December, we will be making deliveries to help families in need and the elderly. A total of 50 portions of food and fruit will be provided for the holidays.
A In Somogyvámos all the villagers living in the village receive donations, as we treat each resident to a hot lunch, and the pensioners also receive a durable food parcel containing rice, pasta, flour, sugar, pickles, oranges and vitamins. The charity programme for 650 residents will take place on 22 December.
29 December at 11:30 Szeged in the dining room of the Maltese Relief Service's shelter, we treat the 150 people staying here to a hot meal and fruit.
They also help homeless people szolnoki our volunteers, because they are the ones who spend the holidays in the greatest loneliness. On 28 December, they will take 50 portions of sweets to the day care centre on Prizma Road to brighten up the festive season.
Volunteers Unfortunately, there is no more room for applications, all places are full!
Contact: 30/243-1486, Péterné Szilaj
Donations to the 10201006-50280678-as számlaszámon or you can support the campaign with a one-off donation of 250 HUF to 13600 donation line where you can select our foundation by dialling the code 33. For corporate grants, for information on tax relief here you can read.
This year's sponsors of the actions are: Municipality of Budapest, Óbuda-Békásmegyer Municipality, Budapest Sewage Works, Budapest Public Grounds Maintenance Ltd, Zelt Kft, Simba Toys Kft, Ferihegy Kft, Óbuda Baking Ltd, Vaskapu Restaurant, Riceland Kft, Levantex Kft, Csodaest Kft, Mobiltoalett Kft, National Children's Rescue Foundation, Reverse-Logic Kft, VPGA Tax Partner Kft, Széndioxid Bt, Star Hungary Kft, Pannon Titán Kft, Automagic Kft, Kemence Pék, and many others who did not wish to be published or are not published due to privacy rights.
We wish you all a happy and loving holiday season!