By Armen Gakavian

At the age of 85, Khachik has a sparkle in his eye that I have rarely seen before.

I went to visit the Mission Armenia Social Welfare Centre and Soup Kitchen in Gyumri with my friend Gharib, the President of the Gyumri Students’ Council. And there was Khachik, playing backgammon – of course. He caught me with the corner of his eye and asked me where I was from. And from there it went.

Khachik is one of 5,000 elderly who rely on Mission Armenia for their daily meal. For some of these elderly, the hot lunch at Mission Armenia’s Soup Kitchen is the only meal they ever get. Most have no family and no one to care for them. And most had no hope until they found Mission Armenia – or, should I say, until Mission Armenia found them.

This was the first time Gharib had visited a Mission Armenia Soup Kitchen, and he was very impressed. In his conversation with the director of the Soup Kitchen, Gharib promised to send volunteers to help with serving meals and home visits.

 

Khachik (front left, seated) plays backgammon while Gharib (standing) talks to Louisa, the director of the Gyumri soup kitchen.