The Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) helps people in deep poverty to keep their homes warm in the cold season. HRCA started the firewood project also this year to save lives. The call for donation went out to the congregations and individuals in the country, but HRCA can also rely on the support of RCH’s Partner Church, the Evangelical Church in Rhineland which contributes 7500 EUR annually to the project.

Cold weather is threatening the lives of the most vulnerable people, who aren’t necessary homeless. According to the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, there is a rising number of those, who are at risk to freezing to death in Hungary. The statistics show that over 8,000 people have died in the country as a result of freezing temperatures since 1990 and almost 50 percent of them lived in unheated homes.

HRCA provides each year firewood for around 130 families and old people, who live in socially underprivileged situation. “The winter is very hard for those families who live in poverty and the wood heating is the only possibility to keep the small houses warm. The price of the wood can be also very expensive especially for those families who have many children and for old people who are living alone.” – reads in the communique of the Aid organisation. HRCA wants to donate firewood in the area of five cities in Hungary (Debrecen, Vásárosnamény, Ózd, Békéscsaba and Budapest) in a value of 120 EUR per household.

Ecumenical Office