There are 1,068 homeless people registered in Bulgaria, of them more than 500 are in Sofia, Social Assistance Agency data show. There are three temporary accommodation centres in Sofia functioning all the year round, but many of the homeless people are unwilling or unable to avail themselves of the services these centres offer, even during the coldest months of the year.

“I have always wondered how these people manage, how they even survive,” says Martin Martinov, owner of Gamrbinus restaurant which will provide hot meals for people without a roof over their heads from 1 November until 31 March.

The “Reach out” campaign is taking place for the first time, it came into being spontaneously:

“This charity initiative came from the bottom of my heart,” Martin Martinov says. “Every winter, for many years, I have been thinking of all these people who are living in the streets. There are some who are left homeless because they have been duped, or because of some kind of mistake they have made that others have taken advantage of. There are many intelligent people who are homeless, many with an education. I am hoping that by this campaign we shall not be setting an example, but will be raising awareness so that more people will begin to help.”

Martin Martinov’s Facebook post was shared by thousands very quickly, with the first donations and volunteer registrations quickly following. Anyone wishing to help the noble cause can bring in packaged products like beans, lentils, macaroni or canned food within expiration date, and after 1 November – fruit, vegetables, meat with their certificate of origin.

“We don’t take money,” Martin Martinov says. “When money is raised in a bank account there is a lot of speculation, that is why anyone wanting to help can do so in products, or volunteer work. It does not matter whether you decide to spare 10 or 100 Leva, what is important is to get involved. Volunteers can spare 1-2 hours in a day – to prepare the vegetables for cooking, and then to hand out the food.”

The restaurant is set to provide hot meals to 50-100 people, but even if more come, we shall do everything we can, we shall not turn anyone away, says Martin Martinov. Between 5 and 6 PM, Monday to Friday, the homeless will receive dinner packages – soup, second course and bread, as well as cutlery. But the homeless will not be forgotten on holidays either – there will be a special, traditional dinner on Christmas Eve, and the restaurant will be open on 1, 2 and 3 January. 

“There is no other way to spread this information among the homeless except for us, the restaurant staff, plus a boy who lives in the streets. When we see a homeless person, we hand out flyers. Because there is no way they can get their information from radio, TV or the Internet,” Martin Martinov explains.

“Reach out” is not the first charity initiative launched by the young man. He has raised money for a surgical operation, and for the needy, and for the third birthday of his restaurant on 10 November, Martin Martinov has asked all clients to bring gifts, in the form of products for the homeless.

“We have to help one another, and be better people.” Martin Martinov says. The owner of the restaurant, named after a European folk hero, a symbol of beer and joy of life – Gambrinus – is convinced that each one of us can do something to bring a little joy and warmth into the lives of the homeless in Sofia.

Contact details:

Restaurant Gambrinus, 29 Vladaiska St., Sofia

Donations and volunteers: 0877 524464

English version: Milena Daynova