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Alcohol and vandalism would hardly surprise anyone. Remigijus reveals that he drank quite frequently. Although she was married, she did not feel much responsibility for the family, the mother still alive also saw her son fall, but felt that no one else was making him unhappy, the man says he could not at that time. Even when I had to get my aunt out of the burned-out house, there was no idea that she would one day wake up homeless or seriously ill.
The man does not hide the fact that his fondness for the cup and his unwillingness to work had to survive a divorce. Nor was it the shock that would make him cling to life. Remigijus says this has become one more reason to feel sorry for oneself and less and less to want to live, to see at least a shred of opportunity. The man became increasingly immersed in alcohol and crime until he found himself in the courtroom for a misdemeanor.
“I soon turned 60, lived irresponsibly, worked, cut trees, but there was still – yes, work will wait. Alcohol, misdemeanors also contributed, and I found myself in court three years ago. I was already loading my bags and getting ready for jail. Also, I was overwhelmed by depression, I felt sorry for myself, I felt that no one needed. Now I am grateful to the judges: I did not plant, but they gave me 40 hours to work. The probation service sent him to the Samaritan community. I didn’t even know who they were, ”Remigijus opens.
The man says that before he had to dig the trench, he just worked without thinking too much. But one day they invited him to take the man out of the apartment and put him on dialysis. Remigijus says that seeing what really serious diseases exist and that those people continue to smile, showing gratitude to those who help them, has been a shock.
“It just came to my attention then. The urge to drink disappeared, I stopped smoking. I considered myself an unhappy person and here I had to help others to sit up, to carry them in my hands. When I had to carry one woman from the third floor, I really experienced a shock. I even asked Mindaugas (head of the Kaunas branch of the Samaritan community, Delfi’s comment) to give me some other job, I said, I better dig the trenches. “More is needed here. Now I don’t even know why I was like this. When I saw that people were much happier, but pleasant, I thought I had invented my own depression,” the man opens.
The 40 days of forced labor for one man became the beginning of a different life. He is now one of the most active members of the Samaritan community. Remigijus says that turn saved him, felt needed, and began to feel gratitude in his heart that the trial was the beginning of his new life.
The man believes that it was that turning point when, by helping others, he also got help for himself. Seeing the lives of people who are grateful for another morning, another day, he began to change himself. And by court order, those who come to work are motivated by your example, that by doing good work for others, you get yourself a great return.
Sigytas Klimas, president of the Lithuanian Samaritan Community, says that the story of almost all people who lack help is unique and exceptional. Remigijus receives food and clothing for his work, because volunteering is unpaid, but he voluntarily stayed after the obligation to do work that benefits society. According to Klim, people who have slipped into their lives often need help, and the Samaritans do not reject or condemn them. Remigijus became an example when a person found help for himself and became a great helper for the weak.
“It is very difficult for a person who needs help to ask for it. If someone comes to ask for support or food for their relatives, it is easier for them and it is extremely difficult for people to ask for food, especially food. Kaunas, St. On Gertrūdos Street “Food is distributed to people every day. Those who really need it hardly look up, thank you,” says the head of the organization.
The organization, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in January, has already assembled a large team of volunteers, according to S. Klim. Some came seeing poverty up close, others were brought by fate itself. Even people who have lost their homes in a fire are initially supported and later expressed gratitude by helping others.
And people with disabilities try to be part of society whenever they can. Autonomy is important to anyone, that’s why the Samaritan community devised a project to educate talented people, albeit with mobility or other disabilities.
“Activities are important for people with disabilities, so we carry out social projects and organize social workshops.
Our goal is to prepare others to work according to their abilities during the year; we teach sewing and drawing. There is also an electronic store. This project has shown that there are quite a few creative people. Although sometimes it is not easy to work with people with disabilities, people of working age study with us, they also receive a scholarship and when they sell their jobs they receive a financial reward, this is how we encourage them to improve. It is true that the pandemic somehow prevented us from working together, so now we are taking the materials home so that the training does not stop, ”says S. Klimas.
In addition, during the last two years, just before the pandemic, several new branches were established in Alytus, Kėdainiai and the Kaunas district. Some of the people who lost their jobs thanks to the Samaritans also received support from their children. The most difficult families have access to free meals or food and clothing.
“The Samaritans have always worked with those who have suffered various problems, deprivation, fires, disasters. Our state does not always have the capacity to provide the necessary assistance to the people. The staff try to always be by your side, looking after both children and the elderly. We have established several nurseries where children come after school, prepare lessons and are fed. There are also charity kitchens in Jurbarkas and Kelmė, those who lack food are always welcome there, ”opens S. Klimas.
People with mobility disabilities living throughout Lithuania can also request help with inventory: the Kaunas, Kelmė and Jurbarkas branches have warehouses with walkers, wheelchairs and special beds. It is true that the warehouses of the international support company are sometimes emptied, because the people brought from Germany are in great need of people. In this case, you have to wait a bit until the temporary use equipment is no longer so necessary for the next fate brother.
S. Klimas says that during twenty years of operation, 19 branches have been established in Lithuania.
“It would take twice as many chapters of this type, which is a distant dream,” Klimas said.
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