Dear friends,
This email is part of our efforts to try to keep you updated on the latest developments with regard to our various ministries amongst refugees.
Meals for Refugees
“Bearing in mind the fact that everyone can contribute in some way and no one is surplus to requirements, I would like to participate in the transportation of some of the portions of food as I have a car with a large trunk. Please do not deny me this joy. Thank you very much.”
This was the message sent to me by one “Costas” upon hearing, via livestreaming, the announcement I made regarding the need for volunteers to help with the preparation of meals for the thousands of refugees stranded and currently living in the port of Piraeus. Costas is a pensioner and MS sufferer with serious mobility issues.
Please note his final phrase. “Please do not deny me this joy. Thank you very much.”
The opportunity to serve our hurting fellow human beings is no duty, neither is it merely an offering. It is not chiefly a sacrifice or a favour that we do for God.
It is a joy and a privilege given to us by God.
Last Saturday we began using our new kitchen to cook meals for refugees. Over the past month, the kitchen at First Greek Evangelical has undergone a major refurbishment in order to enable us to cook large quantities of food.
At each meal we provide around 350 portions, at the cost of around 400 USD. So far we have been offering meals 2 to 3 times a week at Piraeus, the port where over 3000 refugees with nowhere to go are living under squalid conditions. Our aim is to find a way to increase the number of meals we are able to provide.
One of the crucial aspects of this initiative is to help wake up the congregation itself as more and more people participate and help out.
Please pray for us.
Hope Centre for Refugees
We have written previously about Victoria Square, the main focal point in downtown Athens for the refugees. Our day centre for refugee women and children has been up and running now for almost two months and it has proved to be a much needed resources for countless refugees. Even though the centre is only open for four hours a day (we hope to extend the opening hours), between 18th February and 18th March we had 1273 women and children pass through. They come in order to rest, use the bathroom, find a safe space for their children to play and escape from the elements. Even when they were all transported to the various government refugee camps they often return, travelling over an hour to get back to Victoria Square, just to spend an hour at the centre.
The centre has also attracted the attention of other organisations who recognise the excellence, care and professionalism (ie. cleanliness!) of Hope Centre. When Médecins Sans Frontiers visited the centre they asked to use it in the evenings to run clinics for the refugees. When UNICEF visited the centre, they were so impressed with the situation for children that they asked if they could put it on the map as a designated “blue dot” location (read this article for an ‘official’ description of what that means).
Due to the small size of the centre and the many needs we are unable to meet, we rented the much larger space next door in order both to add to our capacity and to provide additional ministries for the refugees such as showers, meals and a second play area for children.
If you would like to help or partner with us as we seek to continue and expand these efforts, please email info@polis.org.gr
With love in Jesus,
The Polis Team
Giotis Kantartzis, George Tolias, Alexandros Pipilios & Tim Coomar