On December 20, 2018, a generous dinner was held at the premises of the Charity House of St. Elizabeth in Košice. It was organized for homeless people by the staff of the charity house with the generous support of people of good will. Milk-Agro provided ingredients for its preparation and also supplied sweets, drinks, and fruit to make this dinner truly generous for the residents of the Charity House. We talked about it with Mr. Kamil Schvarcz, representative of Milk-Agro, the head of the charity house PhDr. Soňa Hlaváčová, PhD., and the director of the Košice Archdiocesan Charity Ing. Cyril Korpesio.
Christmas Eve meetings in this charity house have a long tradition. This year, there was a threat they might not happen...
Mrs. Soňa Hlaváčová: Since 2005, we have been preparing dinner for the residents of our charity house, who ended up here either by their own fault or due to others. We appreciate this year's dinner even more because a few months ago we received information about the closure of the charity house due to non-compliance with fire protection standards for such a facility. Everyone was very afraid whether they would have a place to stay during Christmas. Whether they would be on the street, in provisional facilities, what would happen to them if they lost this house they call home.
Mr. Cyril Korpesio: This facility faces extinction. The reason is a legislative change that tightens operating conditions for such facilities and applies retroactively. This is devastating for this facility because it is impossible to meet all the new decree's conditions within the set time. There is a real threat that all these people will end up on the street again. Therefore, I am glad the dinner took place, traditionally also in the presence of politicians. With the present public life representatives, including the new mayor Jaroslav Polaček, district mayors, and two representatives of the national council, we discussed the acute problems of this facility and sought ways to prevent its closure.
The danger still persists...
Mr. Korpesio: Yes, but we believe that common sense will prevail and the authorities will abandon the idea that the conditions for a homeless charity house should be set according to a four-star hotel, and retroactively at that... Would that drive the homeless back into cardboard boxes under the bridge, and such living conditions would no longer bother them?
Fortunately, they are still here and had a wonderful experience of a generous dinner. How did it go?
Mrs. Hlaváčová: The whole celebration began with a solemn mass celebrated by Archbishop Mons. Bernard Bober. After the mass, everyone sat together at a set table and ate a complete dinner prepared by our staff from the food supplied by Milk-Agro. The residents were especially pleased by the Christmas greeting, a poster sent by Milk-Agro employees, made by the store manager Milk-Agro Hellová, Katka Červenáková. For our clients, it was a great encouragement that someone thinks of them, and they appreciate it very much.
Mr. Schvarcz, how did the idea to help the charity house come about?
I was approached by a former Charity employee, Adam Šepetka, with the idea to help this charity house. We agreed on delivering food for the Christmas Eve dinner preparation. A significant part was donated by Milk Agro as a company, for which I want to thank the director Ing. Jozef Kundrát, who gave me free rein in preparing and organizing this event. Many thanks also go to companies and sponsors who wanted to help and contributed food through me. I personally was especially enthusiastic about the idea because it was non-financial help. I often meet homeless people on the street, and if I can, I help them with food. In that case, I do not regret the money because I know what it was used for. I have no problem buying food, but it bothers me when I know that often the money ends up on alcohol and cigarettes. I have bad experiences with giving money, and I am probably not the only one.
Did you know the charity house before?
A few months before, I visited them. My expectations were quite different from the reality I experienced there. I saw people living on a very basic level, but I also saw care, a positive human approach, and literally kindness in the work of the employees. They certainly do not see it as a job but as a mission to help others. I wanted to help them even more. I explained to our employees in Košice and Prešov stores what activity we joined and gave them the opportunity to contribute individually in the form of a food collection. Many stores took this opportunity, and an amazing event was created. I am glad our employees are not indifferent to the misery of others. 18 stores participated, and saleswomen sent flour, pasta, legumes, teas, soups, and since Christmas was coming, some Christmas sweets. In several stores, residents of Košice also joined this collection, whom our employees approached to help a good cause. I then transported this food to the charity house. And it did not remain a one-time help; we agreed to donate food several times a year.
Mrs. manager, what does this help mean to you?
Mrs. Hlaváčová: It is a great encouragement for employees and clients. The solidarity of good people encourages our clients, and up to 70% of them get employed again and gradually integrate into normal life...
This testifies to the high effectiveness of your work. We wish you much strength in your service and many willing donors...
