The Other Man Rolled Out – “We’ve been chased for years, a hate we can’t control”

“Neighbor” sent the city police “Another Man” as necessary for fellow human beings to survive. in was seen outside closed doors with Andrianna Polychronopoulou, a mother of three who says “we have nowhere else to go, no one is helping us” and insists “we can’t control people’s hatred”.

Holy Wednesday, April 12. Time 13:00 at number 109 of Megalo Alexandrou in Keramikos. People are fast approaching the daily gathering place. He knew he could get help, whether it was a hot meal, food or clothing.

There Konstantinos Polychronopoulos and his people – family and volunteers – help the daily struggle of humanity and fellow human beings.

They “freeze” when they see “The Other Man” closing the entrance to the community kitchen area, they don’t know what happened and ask if they can get any help considering the Easter holiday.

They know nothing about the “neighbors” complaint to the Municipal Police of the Municipality of Athens for sanitary interventions. In fact, M. Alexandru’s “109” is the reason they overcome life’s difficulties.

As they usually say Inside, they and their children cannot survive unless they get some food from the “other man”. “We have nowhere else to go, no one is helping us,” said a mother waiting for some food for her three children.

“We’ve been chased for years”

This is not the first time that there have been reports and complaints about the community kitchen project “The Other Man”, although this is the first time that a complaint has been made.

However, the “neighbor” who made the complaint has disappeared. “Anyone can, they’ve been chasing us for years,” notes Konstantinos Polychronopoulos’ sister, Andreana, who helps out at the community kitchen every day.

“The citizens who come here, especially the homeless, can meet their needs in the community kitchen, they even take a shower. We cannot be responsible for the hours when the “other” does not work,” underlines the sister of Konstantinos Polichronopoulos, who is by his side in this effort.

“Homelessness has been a visible problem for years now. Complaints should be made elsewhere,” he said.

To the allegation that community kitchens pollute space, community kitchen members say no. “The authorities of the Athens Municipality also discovered this, when they came here after the reports were made,” Andrianna Polychronopoulou added.

“Yesterday when the person from the city police came, he recorded that there was no violation and there was no pollution in the area,” he added.

“We don’t want to stop”

As for the future, Ms. Polychronopoulou appears bright. “I don’t know where they want to take it (including the complainants). We will not stop our cooking and our activities,” he notes.

“We cannot control people’s hatred,” he asserts about the reactions gathered by the community kitchen’s “Other Man” project.

Their daily “date”

People who pass by “the other man” every day have formed a special bond with those who have been running this particular program for 12 years.

“We have become their daily life, we are their family, this here (ie the kitchen area at Keramikos) is their home. If I am late to open for a day, they complain to me and look for me in the neighborhood,” said Ms. Polychronopoulou notes that many times those who return to the community kitchen are looking for more than just food. Sociability and chance to chat. “The problem is communicating, exchanging a good morning and a smile,” he added.

Offers have been reduced

As the managers of the community kitchen “The Other Man” emphasize, in addition to the problems they face with the authorities, they are also struggling with the supplies they have because citizens’ donations have dwindled.

“Even though we’re open over the Easter holidays (the community kitchen will reopen on April 24), we won’t have breakfast and the coffees we make every day and produce available for lunch,” she said. .

“Everything is done with evidence and documents,” said Ms. Polychronopoulou refers to the actions of the Community Kitchen, stressing that they do not want to change their action plan to become a non-profit organization or receive grants from agencies. “Unity doesn’t work. We do it because we want to. It bothers some people and this is how the chase starts,” he further emphasizes. “Volunteering is for you. First you fill your own gaps, then fill the gaps of those you help.”

The “Ark” case

In fact, Ms. Polychronopoulou’s speech also highlighted the reactions a few months ago when it was revealed about the “world ark” and aid for clothes that end up in stores or in the trash.

“Some people are skeptical about the help they can provide. “Especially when the ‘Givoto’ issue was asked,” notes Andreana Polichronopoulou.

“Konstantinos regularly asks them to come to one of our events so they can see that there is no fraud,” he adds. For donors to meet him in person at an event, Mr.