Ekaterinburg, April 9, 2019
Photo: ekaterinburg-eparhia.ru
The charitable service of the Ekaterinburg Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church opened an equipped heating tent for the homeless on April 2 together with the regional Ministry of Social Policy. This is the second of the Church’s services for the homeless in Ekaterinburg, reports the diocesan website.
At the heated tent, people will be able to get hot meals, clean clothes, and hygiene products. A social worker will also be on duty at the tent. The new service was blessed by Archpriest Evgeny Popichenko, the head of the diocese’s social department.
“A small home for the homeless was opened in Ekaterinburg. Of course, it’s not a home in the fullest sense; people can’t live here, but they’ll always be waiting for them here, there will always be employees and volunteers of the Orthodox mercy service here, to help someone to get out of his difficult situation,” explained Fr. Evgeny.
“When you have someone nearby who is attentive to you and who knows how to help, it’s easier to get by,” he continued.
Photo: ekaterinburg-eparhia.ru
The heated tent is the diocese’s second social project for the homeless. It has operated a mobile point of assistance—the Bus of Mercy—for 10 years already. The bus goes out three days a week for several hours a day. The Novosibirsk Metropolia also has its “Bus of Salvation” that offers the homeless a warm place to stay at night.
“There was a long overdue need to launch a second point of assistance to the homeless in such a large metropolis as Ekaterinburg … where someone can come for help five times a week. They can warm up, rest, get a hot meal here, and get the necessary help from experts,” said the head of the local Orthodox relief service Konstantin Bunin.
The Synodal Department for Charity and Social Services recently opened a laundromat for the homeless in Moscow, in addition to its “Hangar of Salvation,” where the homeless can receive the same type of assistance as at the new Ekaterinburg tent.
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