Through street talk, he found out about an El Cajon park where other homeless received food from OBI partner organization Lifeline Ministries. As he ate, the staff and volunteers also offered acceptance as well as a place to take a shower. Seeing this kind of love made Ed want to help others, even if he could do a small thing. Each year, hundreds of thousands try to survive on small government pensions in Kazakstan and the Ukraine. Often large multi-generational families with four to ten children dwell in small crumbling apartments.
Jobs are scarce and the elderly are forced to look for food in garbage bins.
Thanks to you and other OBI partners, thousands of these precious people are being assisted through food and clothing distributions. Since the beginning of May, five new OBI sponsored soup kitchens have begun operation in Almaty and Uralsk, Kazakstan. Irina Schuchkina is just one of the approximately 150 needy people who receive a free nutritious hot lunch every day. As a grandmother, she shares a cramped apartment with her daughter and granddaughter. This small family's survival depends on Irina working odd jobs.