A gift they won't forget: Christmas food boxes and answered prayers

Esmerelda got married when she was only 15 years old. Growing up in a Roma community in Bulgaria, where they suffer ethnic marginalisation and women's roles are tired to deeply rooted stereotypes, teen marriage was the expected route to take. From a young age, Esmerelda has felt the weight of life’s burdens.

“I got married really young, and I didn’t really understand what being a wife and mother truly meant. In just a few years, we had three sons,” said Esmerelda.

Now 21, living with her sons and husband, Kostadin, poverty has been no mystery to their family.

“I didn’t expect it to be so difficult for us to get on our feet,” said Esmerelda, but the cycle of poverty is ruthless, and opportunities to get out are rare. Every day, the family struggles to afford basic necessities, including putting food on the table. They live in an unfinished home, sharing one room, with no inside bathroom or toilet.

Esmerelda remembers times when she felt increasingly helpless and trapped, saying “there were moments when despair almost overwhelmed me.”

Yet, it felt like nothing would change. At times, she had to choose between buying food and buying nappies for their children.

“We knew we needed to buy both, but we didn’t know what to do," she said.

“Sometimes I feel like we’ve been forgotten, like the world has moved on and left us. But in those darkest moments, I always hoped for a miracle.”

As Christmas day approached, Esmerelda and Kostadin's hardships were now made even tougher by the freezing weather. Their finances were stretched thin trying to heat their home and have warm clothing for the children. A lack of jobs at this time of year meant that they couldn’t afford to even think about a fun and carefree Christmas.

And then a day came that they would never forget: MWB staff member, Ventsislav, arrived at their door with a delivery that meant so much more than the box and its contents – it was good news; a message to remind them that they are not alone, they are not forgotten, and they can celebrate this Christmas.

“This means so much to us,” Esmerelda said. “I was worried about how we would make it this Christmas, but this food will bring happiness to my children... It gives me so much hope to know that someone cares about us.”

“Our first reaction was one of disbelief. It was like a heavy cloud had been lifted. Our prayers had been answered." Esmerelda said with tears in her eyes. “This package means we can have a special meal together. It's not just food; it's love and kindness."

Now a part of our Family Sponsorship Program that provides regular material and spiritual support, the gift of a simple box was a tangible answer to prayer and the open door to a new beginning.

When Esmerelda held that box, hope filled her hands for the first time in years. Hope that her children would have a real Christmas. Hope that someone, somewhere, cared.

Give the gift of hope this Christmas by donating a $50 food box to those in need.