site.btaGood Always Wins, Charity Officer Says

Good always wins, according to Petar Petrov, office manager at a Sofia-based NGO named Podai Raka (Reach Out Your Hand), which helps socially disadvantaged people.

Petrov said in a BTA interview that his organization's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable families by supporting them with essentials such as food, electric appliances and money towards their utility bills. Besides that, the foundation, which has been operational for two years, supports riding schools, makes donations to animal shelters and community centres, and hands out presents to children in hospitals.

The year 2023 was successful for Podai Raka, Petrov said. He singled out a charity campaign in Smolyanovtsi, in the northwestern Montana Region, which touched him personally more than any other case.

The beneficiaries were a widower and his three children: an eight-year-old boy and two girls aged 10 and 12, respectively. After the man's wife died, he sunk into depression. The kids helped him a lot with the daily chores, looking after the household's animals, washing, shopping, cooking. The family was in great need of support, Petrov said.

"Their house was half-built. No bathroom, no kitchen, no beds even. They slept on the floor. They lacked just about everything. Fortunately, lots and lots of people joined the charity campaign, and we managed to give the family a new life," he said. The effort was conducted through Facebook.

"Many donors contributed to the cause as individuals. They provided building materials for a bathroom which we built almost from scratch. We found people to help repair the roof of the house. The floor was cemented. New beds and new electric appliances were provided. Even the village mayor gave a big hand, we thank him so much."

Petrov noted that the three kids are no longer their former selves, they have grown happier and more sociable. Their father is recuperating too.

"Helping always makes sense," the NGO officer argued. He could not give an accurate description of the quintessential donor but said that the foundation has always worked with compassionate and positive-minded people. "We believe that people have become kinder," he added.

Petrov spoke about a kid who came to their office with his mother one day to donate his toys, hoping they could make other kids happier.

"We try to spread good. We put our emotions in every case. We even provide follow-up assistance after the campaigns - we want to know how far the beneficiaries have gone. We do it from the heart, which is probably why it works," Petrov said.