Meet Anatoly

The Soup Kitchen we support has been up and running for around seven years. Soup was lovingly prepared at the Crisis Centre kitchens and distributed from the Crisis Centre grounds. Their able-bodied residents got involved with the serving and cooking as a way of ‘giving back’ for all the care and compassion they had received themselves. For those running projects in Volkhov, there is concern...

“There are so many poor people on the outskirts of the city.” – Alina

In more recent years, and since we were able to bless them with a minibus, they have the ability to travel with the Soup Kitchen. Loaded with large vats of hot food, sandwiches, biscuits, cakes, porridge and any other items they have available to give away like shoes and clothes. The minibus transports this outreach to new areas and means they can reach people in need who would otherwise have no means of getting to them.

While the soup is served, free haircuts provide another means of offering dignity to people whose circumstances are dire.

Each Soup Kitchen, that happens at least twice a week, draws in 30 plus people. As time has gone on the typical attendee has changed. When they started out, it was mostly people experiencing homelessness who needed their help.

Now there are elderly, and shockingly, there are children and teenagers among their number. The people who come are not necessarily homeless, they simply can't afford food.

“ Food prices are rising so much that food now costs three times what it was. It's crippling people.” - Alina

Alongside the soup and gifts, a business card with a helpline phone number is distributed. The hope is, that once relationships and trust are established with the volunteers, the Soup Kitchen users will make use of the phone number that will put them in touch with a person who will listen to their difficulties and offer further help. Like a lot of business cards, they're eventually discarded... but even then, God can make sure a phone number ends up where it is needed!

Meet Anatoly

"I don’t understand how I lost everything; my home, my job and my family.

A good person offered me work and food at the city dump. Here, I had shelter and worked all day sorting rubbish in exchange for food, cigarettes and alcohol which became my only comfort.

One day, while going through the rubbish, I came across a box. Inside were some boots. The boots were old and worn out, but something else caught my attention. Inside was a small card with a name and a phone number - it was a business card from the 'House of Mercy' Men's Crisis Centre.

Summoning the courage, I asked to use my friend's phone and called them. We talked, and I decided to give it a try. The next day, they arrived and offered to take me to the Centre. I had nothing to lose, so I went.

With the support of the Centre’s staff and the church ministers, I have given up my bad habits and for the first time in my life, at the age of 49, I have a medical insurance card!

Here, I live in a dormitory, surrounded by people who, like me, took the chance of having a new life. We support each other by sharing our personal stories and experiences."

- Anatoly

We've supported the Soup Kitchen with one-off gifts since the start. As time has gone on, and food prices have risen to unmanageable levels, the need for this ministry has grown. We have recently committed to regular, more generous amounts to ensure this outreach continues at the pace it has now reached.

You can support this important project through our 'More Than Food' Christmas Appeal!

See the Christmas Appeal