Charity canteen also feels the impact of this year's vegetable shortage

A charity canteen in Vienna feeds dozens of hungry people every day. For many, a warm meal is the only food they eat all day. For other eaters, it's important to come in and find a word of comfort, which sometimes warms them up more than steaming soup.

The dedicated staff and volunteers of the charity canteen of the Crisis Centre „Angelų pieva“ are in the kitchen from early morning, cooking, baking and making salads, because as soon as the canteen opens its doors, the first clients will be waiting for their rations.

Labdara canteen visitors Justina Bubliauskienė and Arvydas Byras are happy to receive fresh and tasty food, which they come to pick up every day.

Catering about 80 people

Justina Bubliauskienė, who came to pick up her food ration, has been looking after not only herself, but also a long-time friend for many years. Every day, she takes some more warm food for herself and for him, and runs home to make sure it doesn't get too cold.

„For us, this canteen – is our salvation. Our pensions are small, and it's scary to go to the pharmacies. The prices are high everywhere," lamented a woman of respectable age, who praised both the delicious food and the women who work here.

„I live close by, in the collective gardens. If it were further away, I wouldn't be able to come, especially in the winter when it's slippery," said the elderly woman, who often brings home a basket full of apples and other fruit to eat.