Turkish volunteers have come collectively to assist homeless individuals beat the bitter chilly in Germany the place temperatures can drop beneath zero in winter. Volunteers residing in nations throughout Europe, significantly Germany, present the homeless and others in want with meals, drinks and clothes via their very own means.
Canan Nurna is a nurse by career however has been actively concerned in volunteer work for 20 years and is likely one of the founders of Merhaba & Mahlzeit help affiliation. Since 2019, Nurna stated they’ve expanded the scope of the help for these residing on the road in winter. “Our aim is to reduce deaths from the cold weather by providing warmth to the homeless with specially created buses,” she shared.
The volunteer shared that the temperature in Germany drops beneath zero levels Celsius (32 levels Fahrenheit) in winter, particularly at evening when many individuals are sleeping on the streets. “We cook and distribute nutritious meals twice a week with tea and coffee to the homeless. From Cologne, Berlin, Münster, Frankfurt and Sweden to Bonn next week, we are trying to do something with our own means,” she defined, including that the affiliation not solely operates in Europe but in addition in Idlib and areas on Türkiye’s border with Syria.
Nurna shared that 23 individuals froze to demise in Germany final yr whereas one individual died from the chilly in Frankfurt not too long ago. “We can prevent this by distributing quilts, blankets, jackets, socks, gloves, hats and shawls. It gets so cold that the temperature drops to minus 10 degrees sometimes,” she stated.
“In this situation, even a cup of tea means a lot to them. We are all responsible for each other and we should help in every way possible,” Nurna emphasised.
“People become happy and appreciate us after they receive help. I believe everyone can share their excess winter stuff with these people living on the streets. We received an award for our volunteer work, we do not receive any funds, sponsors send all these donations. Sometimes these are not enough but we continue to help even with meager resources.”
Tolga Özgül, supervisor of Merhaba & Mahlzeit, thanked the philanthropists and benefactors who assist preserve the charity work going. Sharing that they’re struggling to forestall individuals from dying within the chilly on the streets, Özgül stated, “Our sponsors provide food and clothing that those living on the street may need. We also help people several times a week. We will continue to distribute this aid as much as we can.”
Meanwhile, Feyza Bayraktar, who has been volunteering for six years on the “Cologne Cold Bus” (Kölner Kaeltebus), stated: “We are offering food, clothes, hygiene products and other necessary items to our homeless friends on Mondays and Wednesdays. Apart from that, we have night shifts every day when it is minus degrees in winter. Sometimes from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. People can reach us any time of the day. We find them and try to provide them with what they need.”
There is a “Cold Bus” working in nearly each metropolis, particularly metropolitan cities, to boost consciousness, she added.
Dirk Wernzig, who has been residing on the road for 5 years now, stated he appreciated the help being prolonged to him.
Commenting on the difficulties confronted residing on the streets, particularly in chilly climate, Wernzig stated, “Unfortunately, I have been living on the street for five years. This organization provides us with clothing, food and coffee. I did not expect this at all. The food is great, it is not only delicious but we can eat as much as we want.”
