Street Mercy 5 year anniversary

Street Mercy in Bulgaria celebrates 5th anniversary

In February,The Mission Without Borders team in

Sofia, Bulgaria celebrated the 5th anniversary of the StreetMercy project.

 
The project was set up in 2012, in partnership with the local church, in response to the growing issues of unemployment and therefore homelessness in Bulgaria's capital. In winter especially, there was a huge need when temperatures in the city plummet to -20, leaving many people extremely vulnerable on the streets.
 
StreetMercy is essentially a mobile soup kitchen that provides warm food, clothes, shoes, blankets, plus medical, emotional and spiritual support to the homeless six days a week. The service operates from two locations in the city and those who come to get food each day include: children from Children's homes, youth from broken families, the unemployed and men and women suffering from addiction and mental and physical disabilities.
 
On one of distribution days, Sarkis, MWB's Field Country Manager in Bulgaria, along with representatives from the local authority and church partners, greeted the beneficiaries as they gathered to collect their food and prayed for them. Mrs Fandakova, the city's Mayor, also came and the homeless were amazed at the time she took to shake their hands and talk with them.  
 
Sarkis said: "I would like to thank everyone who has made this project happen over the past five years, from volunteers to our supporters around the world. The aim of the project has always been simple - to provide and show Christian love to the most vulnerable in our society. I pray that we will be able to continue to support those in great need and that they will find some hope and light in their lives through this project and the love of Jesus Christ."
 
120 homeless people are supported currently in the city and it is estimated that over the past five years up to 4,000 people have been reached as a result of the projec