We have been battling the COVID-19 pandemic in Kaliningrad for a long time. Since March 2020 we have had a different order in our parish and Caritas center for the support and care for our visitors. For security reasons we unfortunately had to close our ambulance. Only the soup kitchen initially remained in operation.
Help for the homeless and other needy people
There was no quarantine until mid-March, so the homeless could come to eat. After they ate the soup while sitting on benches in the open air in the beginning, there was a great deal of confusion, so we decided to put the benches away. Everyone got their soup and left the premises.
For the other visitors to the soup kitchen – senior citizens and other needy people – we prepared food packages so that they did not have to come every day. At first three times a week, then every Monday and finally every two weeks. But then the situation got even worse: no going out, everything closed – so we officially closed. Everyone who came was given something to eat on the street. It is still like that now.
It is difficult to work with people who do not assess and perceive the danger. We kept asking people to keep their distance, to refrain from handshakes and hugs – it didn’t help. Some were completely inconsiderate and said they were disinfected from the inside.
Unfortunately, we don’t know how everyone is doing. Some are currently not coming, some are in hospital. Some became infected and died.
Our parish members also live at a distance. For some, whose distress we heard about, we packed food parcels to help at least a little. For many it is not easy; everything has become expensive and life is difficult.
Of course there are also people who have helped us and continue to help. For a while, a small bakery brought us bread that we could give away. A man from the community went fishing with friends and brought us several fish almost every day to keep families happy. Many parishioners have transferred their donations, which they usually put in the basket on Sunday.
We still don’t know how things will continue here and hope that our lives will soon return to normal.
Password: Kaliningrad – Help for the needy
Mission Center of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary
Mount Schoenstatt 6
56179 Vallendar
Tel .: (0261) 64 04-311
Email: missionszentrale@s-ms.org<br />
Bank details: LIGA Bank eG
IBAN: DE10 7509 0300 0000 058920
BIC: GENODEF1M05