The Soup Kitchen
The old industrial town of Volkhov suffers from high levels of poverty among its residents, with many homeless people seeking shelter in the stairwells of rundown tower blocks.
At least twice a week, a team of volunteers goes out into the community to serve soup, offering shoes and warm clothing to those in need.
Sadly, some children have also been seen at the soup kitchen.
The need
In our experience, the reasons for homelessness in Russia are as follows:
Living hand-to-mouth. Unofficial jobs with low wages offer no stability. Lost or stolen passports. Without these it is impossible to rent an apartment. Domestic violence. Many women are forced out of their homes. Family disputes, often stemming from addiction, can act as a catalyst. Frailty or illness. When the elderly can no longer earn an income, families may become unwilling to support them. Being an orphanage leaver. Lacking sufficient support or attempting to 'make it in the city' can easily lead to homelessness.
What your donations do
Around 30 people regularly need this Soup Kitchen and through this outreach, people can be identified who need shelter at the Crisis Centre or signposted toward other help.
It's an opportunity to share the love of God in a very practical way while meeting the most basic of needs.
Your donation helps with the continuous ingredients needed for the nutritious soup that is made in large quantities as well as the bread, biscuits, sandwiches and porridge they aim to provide.
