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"Caritas" Day Center ATEIK is a place for the individuals experiencing homelessness in Kaunas, Lithuania. Among many services, it helps people to integrate back into society and develop their social as well as professional skills. Everyone at the Kazickas Family Foundation is glad to be able to contribute to center's important work while breaking outdated stereotypes and showing how to share tolerance, inclusion and kindness.
During the pandemic, center managed to adapt to new situation and continue its work safely. Twice a week it distributed food packages to 20-40 individuals, provided private and group consultations regarding social, legal and medical issues, helped to attain proper identification documents, offered TB preventive care, assisted with job search and rehab placement. The latest challenge that center is facing - providing proper assistant to the individuals who were recently released from jail. They are invited to join the programs that center offers, however their needs require a lot of personal and professional assistance.
"Caritas" center for the homeless continues to offer various educational programs and volunteering opportunities. More and more individuals that use the center, contribute during the clean up events, share their talents to make the center more welcoming. Thanks to this group, a new initiative started where helpers split the tasks and plan their work. They also volunteer at the Kaunas Zoo, help at the "Rigra" and "Caritas" soup kitchens. Reaching out to help the one in need is becoming more an more common at the center.
Center director Arunas Kucikas shared that the Kazickas Family Foundation support not only helps to continue the work at the center, but serves as a bridge connecting them with the Kaunas municipality and encouraging the dialogue. Center employees work hard trying to change how homelessness is being treated by the society. Individuals who struggle with this issue are the citizens of Lithuania with the same rights as everyone else. Yet they experience humiliation, exclusion, finger pointing and even violence every day. There are many reasons for homelessness, such as job loss, divorce, disease and none of us are immune to it. However, everyone deserves respect. "Don't be afraid to show kindness. Invite homeless person to have lunch together. How do you think it would make you feel? I've done it before, it's not easy, we are consumed with various stereotypes. If you don't want to have lunch together - go to the nearest grocery store and get some groceries. If you put a coin into someone's hand reaching out, are you brave enough to look him or her in the eye? Don't treat that person as someone less of you," encourages center's employee Milita.