The Food for Life Foundation will once again distribute hundreds of metric tons of non-perishable food and thousands of hot meals this year; in addition, this year the „Send a message of goodwill to the Tree of Love”Through a campaign titled “,” I would like to draw attention to the power of caring. The highlight of the Advent campaigns will be the food distribution at Blaha Lujza Square.
The food distribution at Blaha Lujza Square has become almost a traditional sight at Christmas; it is organized every year by the Food for Life Public Benefit Foundation, the humanitarian organization of the Krishna devotees. This is perhaps the largest food distribution of the holiday season, helping thousands of families get through Christmas and ensuring that a few delicious treats make their way onto their holiday tables. Wristband distribution begins at 8:00 a.m. for guests; once you have a number, there’s no need to wait out in the cold—simply return by 11:00 a.m. when distribution begins. Service will take place at two lines of counters, so the event—which serves 1,500 people—will be completed in just 3 hours.
The foundation’s staff begins preparations for the Advent season weeks in advance. Even outside the holiday season, they distribute 1,950 meals every day in Budapest, at five distribution points and to those served by the Budapest Methodological Social Center and its affiliated institutions. As Christmas approaches, however, a large support team organizes the details of the holiday campaign—from obtaining permits, coordinating donations, and placing orders, to ensuring hygiene standards. Out of the countless civilian volunteers who have applied, they are able to register 100 people for each day—spots have been filling up since August and are now long since filled. During the Christmas season, team members work 14–15 hours a day to run the campaign.
„During the Christmas food distribution, we increase the number of meals and food packages distributed each day. The reason for this is a trend we’ve observed for years: on Christmas Eve, many individuals and nonprofit organizations feel compelled to do something, so they launch various food distribution initiatives—whether by individuals, small or large groups, or organizations—throughout the city. These are mostly concentrated on the first day, the 24th, so more and more people come to us on the remaining days of the holiday. In fact, we feel we’ve played a small part in sparking this wave of generosity. At every food distribution, it’s not uncommon for a delivery truck to pull up, and some merchants offer a certain amount from their own inventory to benefit those in need. These instances also show that people’s perspectives and attitudes are changing, and it feels good to be a part of this. Still, we encourage everyone: if you’d like to help, let’s join forces and build an even longer table together..” – says Attila Szanyi-Karl, the foundation’s director.
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December 24–25–26, Blaha Lujza Square
1,200 servings of main dishes, tea, sweets, and baked goods, and 1,100 care packages / on the 24th 1,600 servings of main courses, tea, sweets, and baked goods, plus 1,500 care packages / daily on the 25th and 26th The aid packages contain twenty different ingredients Wristband Distribution at 8:00 a.m. Distribution begins at 11:00 a.m. Expected completion time: 2:00 p.m. |
Thousands of people are being hosted in rural areas as well
Special holiday promotions won't be limited to the capital. In Eger, 400; in Debrecen, 300; in Miskolc, 330; 300 in the towns of Marcali, Horvátkút, and Kéthely, and 600 in Somogyvámos; in all locations, the program will also include the distribution of food packages. In Miskolc, the volunteers will visit five special education institutions and are also preparing a cultural program for the children. In mid-January The event in Békéscsaba concludes with the distribution of packages to 108 people the Advent circle, which takes place in early December at the For 800 people in Óbuda It began with food distribution. During this time, hundreds of metric tons of non-perishable food are distributed, and thousands of elderly people, the sick, the unemployed, as well as large families and children in need who would otherwise spend Christmas in loneliness and isolation are welcomed as guests for the holiday.
Send a heartfelt Christmas greeting to those in need!
The Food for Life Foundation has more than two decades of experience in social services. The Foundation’s volunteers know that, in addition to food packages worth several thousand forints, what those in need need most—and what is missing from most of their lives—is a warm meal cooked with love and a kind word. For them, regaining a sense of security, receiving an expression of care, a smile, a gesture of support, and extra attention are what make Christmas special.
That is why this year, Krishna devotees are launching a special campaign to raise awareness about the power of caring. A Christmas Charity Dinner As part of the event, the foundation also erects a Christmas tree called the „Tree of Love” in Blaha Lujza Square. The name comes from the fact that it is decorated with the power of love—that is, with heartfelt messages for those in need.
You can send your kind messages on the “Food for Life” and “Hungarian Krishna Consciousness Community” Facebook pages, via private message, or during the event, here: event >>
The campaign was organized by the www.eteltazeletert.hu Anyone can make a donation of 500 Ft (gross) per call by visiting the website or calling the 13600 donation hotline and dialing code 33.
