ADRA Finland delivers a weekly dose of good spirits
The Helsinki-based soup kitchen run by the Adventist Development and Relief Organization (ADRA) offers a warm meal every Sunday. Volunteers help implement activities that reach more and more people, as poverty and economic difficulties are a reality for more and more people across Northern Europe.
“The first time I was in a soup kitchen was a little over two years ago,” ADRA Finland volunteer Linda Helin said. “I recently got to know the Adventist Church and was asked to join ADRA’s food distribution. I enjoyed the experience so much that I regularly served at the soup kitchen. Now we are responsible for distributing food bags and soup to the Oikos community of young adults once a month. Sometimes new people have joined, who are interested in experiencing the atmosphere of the soup kitchen and helping in different ways.”
The soup kitchen has a warm and communal atmosphere. Volunteers prepare soup and sandwiches and collect food bags. Many customers visit the food service every week and they become good acquaintances.
For visitors, the soup kitchen is not only an opportunity to get a warm meal, but also an opportunity to meet friends and socialize. Volunteers spend time talking to people and listening to their stories. The most important thing is that the physical and social needs of each participant are met.
– The soup kitchen is an easy and nice way to serve others and get to know ADRA’s activities, Helin said. “I warmly recommend volunteering at the soup kitchen to anyone interested who wants to spread good spirits and put a smile on their faces.”
ADRA Finland and its predecessor ADA have been helping the poor in Finland since the 1960s. Together with their regional partners, they organize food deliveries, porridge breakfasts, soup kitchens, shared meals and the distribution of free clothes and home textiles in different parts of the country.
In Finland, the organization distributes approximately 80,000 to 100,000 kilos (approximately 176,000 to 220,000 pounds) of European Union food aid to those in need. Around 30,000–40,000 people in Finland use help through ADRA Finland every year, the agency’s managers said.
ADRA Finland is part of ADRA International, a global network that delivers aid and development assistance to people in more than 130 countries, regardless of their ethnic background, political orientation or religious background. Through cooperation with governments, city halls and organizations, ADRA has improved the quality of life standards of millions. In Europe, ADRA is present in 30 countries.