Servus. . .I have a question and need YOUR help with an answer.
Who do I quit feeding at the soup kitchen?
Two years ago this June, the cantina (soup kitchen) was opened in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. I kept you posted about the CHILDREN, WOMEN AND MEN who frequented the cantina 5 days a week. We HAVE BEEN FEEDING approximately 100 people per day for these past two years.
I told you about Andrei, the piano player/composer/tuner and his wife, Vavara, both homeless and begging on the streets. They eventually brought several other homeless to the cantina, Eva and her baby were among their friends who needed nourishment.
Many of you fell in love with Daniel and Madalina, the brother and sister whose mom brought them to the cantina. I related how we were able to get Daniel and Mada eyeglasses so they could attend school. Then I found out that Daniel was sleeping on the floor. He had no bed. I was able to acquire a "pull-out" chair/bed for him. The joy on Daniel's face was priceless when we delivered the bed to the home where they live in the basement.
At my web site, www.home.earthlink.net/~zanadu , you've seen pictures of the older ladies who gather each day to chat and eat what is possibly their only hot meal for the day. I've told you about the older men who come to the cantina, some with alcohol problems. We are still working with Floyd Frantz who initiated an alcohol re-hab program in Cluj and other cities in Romania.
In April of this year, we came to the end of the funding for the cantina. My social worker, Cristina, is trying to keep it going. One of the ways she's able to keep the doors open is to tell 50 of our beneficiaries that they can no longer come to the cantina to eat.
So help me, do we tell Daniel and Madalina's mother not to bring the children anymore? How about the twins, Gabriel and Alex? Do we cut them off? There's Andrei and Vavara's friend, Eva and her baby son, how do we take food from them? Or how about Iutca, the "drama queen" who makes her grand entrance everyday with her son, Stefan, do we tell them to stay away?
Over the years I've kept you up-to-date with the progress of my work in Romania. I'm now asking you for help. It takes around $1,500 per month to run the cantina and feed 100 people per day, 5 days a week. I need immediate help FROM YOU.
COULD YOU FIND IT IN YOUR HEART TO SEND $10, $20 OR EVEN $50-$100 TO KEEP FEEDING THE HUNGRY? YOUR GIFT CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN KEEPING THE CANTINA OPEN AND FEEDING THE HUNGRY OR CLOSING OUR DOORS FOREVER.
The cantina has been endorsed by the OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center)-therefore, your donations ARE 100% tax deductible and ARE SENT directly to the cantina. In fact, through the OCMC, 100% of every dollar, when earmarked "MASA/Romania" in the memo line, goes DIRECTLY to the cantina. Check out the OCMC web site at: http://www.ocmc.org
Whether you are or are not able to help me with this project, please feel free
to forward this email to friends and family who you think would be interested
in helping with this desperate need.
Help us CONTINUE TO FEED THE HUNGY at the cantina.
Send your donations to:
OCMC, PO Box 4319, St. Augustine, FL 32085
Be sure to note "MASA/Romania" on your check
Cu mult drag. . .
(With much love. . .)
Zan