While Many Feasted, Others Went Without

While many people are warm and well-fed during the Christmas holidays, the same can’t be said about most of the clients of our Social and Medical Improvement (SMI) clients. Living deep in the mountains surround Pogradec - or even in the heart of the city itself - many poor Albanians have trouble putting food on the table or wood in the fire to keep warm. Winter only magnifies these challenges, as limited income, isolation, and rising costs leave families facing difficult choices just to survive the colder months.

At the end of December, while the world was celebrating Christmas and the coming of a New Year, our SMI team was hard at work. In partnership with a German organization who collected donations (in the form of 1500 boxes of food) and transported them to Albania, our team chose to spend part of their holiday time delivering food packages to those in need. These visits were not only about providing essential supplies, but also about offering presence, dignity, and a reminder that these families have not been forgotten.

The individuals and families we serve often do not have steady employment and can rarely afford to buy sufficient food on their own. For many, even basic staples are out of reach. Because of this, the food packages we deliver can make a significant and immediate difference - helping households get through the winter weeks with less anxiety and greater stability.

Your continued support makes this work possible. By giving, partnering, or sharing about the SMI program, you help ensure that vulnerable families receive practical help when they need it most. We invite you to stand with us and continue bringing warmth, nourishment, and hope to those facing the hardest seasons of life.