2 February 2023 | Helsinki, Finland [ADRA Europe]
“My first time in a soup kitchen was a little over two years ago. I recently got to know the Adventist Church and was asked to join ADRA’s (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) food distribution. I liked the experience so much that I now regularly serve in the soup kitchen, responsible for distributing food bags and soup to the Oikos community of young adults once a month. Sometimes, new people join who are interested in experiencing the atmosphere of the soup kitchen and being helpful in different ways,” says Linda Helin, a volunteer with ADRA Finland.
The soup kitchen has a warm, communal atmosphere. Volunteers work hard to prepare tasty meals and food bags, while taking time to talk to visitors and listen to their stories. Their aim is to meet both physical and emotional needs. For visitors, the soup kitchen is a real haven, a refuge from some of the everyday challenges they face, a place where they can get a warm meal, meet friends and socialise.
“The soup kitchen is an easy way to serve others and get to know ADRA’s activities. I warmly recommend working as a volunteer in the soup kitchen to anyone interested and wants to spread good spirits and put a smile on their faces as well,” concludes Helin.
ADRA Finland and ADRA Europe, along with their regional partners, organise food deliveries, porridge breakfasts, soup kitchens, shared meals, and the distribution of free clothes and textiles in different parts of Finland. Annually, ADRA distributes around 80,000–100,000 kilograms of food, supporting up to 40,000 Finish families.
The original version of this story was published on the ADRA Europe website [Photos: ADRA Europe].
