UOC volunteers help to organize a warming centre for the homeless in Kyiv

UOC volunteers feeding the homeless on New Year's Eve. Photo: Facebook page of the Mission "UOC Synodal Department for Social and Humanitarian Affairs".

Volunteers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church helped in the work of a warming station near Kyiv's Southern railway station, which was organized by MP Roman Hryschuk. On the night of January 1, 2022, they organized a festive supper for the homeless, reports the UOC Information Centre on its Facebook page.

The warming centre is designed for 70 people, but due to the cold weather, up to 100 people find shelter there overnight. Orthodox volunteers are on night shifts, during which they hand out hot food and tea.

The charitable action was initiated by the people's deputy of Ukraine Roman Hryshchuk with the participation of the UOC, Solomenskiy district administration of Kyiv, the UOC Orthodox volunteer movements "Zontik" (“Umbrella”), "Youth cares", and the sisterhood of St. Elizabeth Fedorovna.

"It is very important that everything can be in one place: a warming centre and medical assistance. People with frostbite, wounds, the homeless really need warmth. We provide them with both medical care and food," said the sister of mercy Valentina.

According to Archpriest Sergiy Ekshiyan, head of the UOC Synodal Department for Social and Humanitarian Affairs, 200-300 people receive daily hot meals at the station. "On New Year's Eve we prepared not a common dinner for the homeless but a New Year's Eve meal with "Olivier" salad to please these people a little. Everyone wants warmth, joy and love. I hope our believers can give them this love," he said.

Fr Sergiy said the warming station is one of the most important things to save the lives of the homeless during the bitter cold. "We are grateful to all those who took part in the opening of this station. We hope that there will be a response among Orthodox people who want to show their faith in a good cause. We need people who can come and help, at least once a week, an hour a day," the priest said.

In Kyiv, 17 churches of the UOC distribute hot dinners for the homeless and the poor.

Those wishing to join the Orthodox volunteers and help the homeless can contact the coordinator of the UOC volunteer movement, Vitaliy Skrypnyk, at +38 (067) 548 40 06.

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