Fenya Nikolyan, 73, had a long and successful career in Armenia’s textile industry before the collapse of the USSR. As a clothing designer and trade union member, she traveled across Armenia, building collaborations in her field. But life took a difficult turn, leaving her in a tough situation where she needed support. That’s when she found the FAR Gyumri Atinizian Soup Kitchen.
Every day, Fenya starts her day with a 30-minute walk to the soup kitchen, where she joins around 120 other seniors who also rely on its nutritious, balanced meals.
“This place is my sanctuary,” Fenya says with heartfelt gratitude. “Here, I eat, connect with others, and make friends. I can’t imagine staying home alone all day. The soup kitchen is our joy. I first heard about it on the radio, and I never imagined it would bring such happiness to my life.”
Fenya lost her husband, Ruben Yeghoyan, ten years ago. While she has two daughters—Gohar and Alvard—who are both married and widowed, she lives alone, as they struggle to make ends meet themselves. Fenya relies on her pension of 44,000 AMD, which barely covers her medical and utility bills. The soup kitchen has been a significant relief for her. She’s even managed to save part of her pension to install a heating system in her small home, making winters more bearable.
“The first time I walked into the soup kitchen, I was amazed by how clean and tidy it was—it felt like my own kitchen,” Fenya adds with a warm smile. “Everything here is prepared with such care. I even have my favorite meal here—Pochov apur, a soup with pasta and beans. I don’t know what I’d do without this help.”
Operated by FAR, the Atinizian Center feeds about 120 elderly people in Gyumri as part of the FAR Soup Kitchens Program. Many of the attendees are disabled or lack decent housing, and all struggle to get by on their minimal pensions. They come to the center for free, nutritious meals five days a week, and to socialize and bathe.
To help support underprivileged people at FAR’s soup kitchens in Yerevan, Kotayk, Tavush, and Shirak provinces, please consider donating to FAR today.
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