Socially deprived persons can have free lunch at social eateries

The persons in crisis situations can have free lunch at social eateries in Chisinau. About 540 persons ate daily at these eateries last year. The municipal authorities allocated 3 million lei for the purpose. The same amount was earmarked for this year. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, Aurelia Bulat, senior specialist of the General Social Assistance Division, said that in order to be able to have lunch at the eatery, the person must file an application to the social assistance division situated within the area where they have the domicile. Each district compiles a list of applicants. “If the number of applicants exceeds the number of lunches planned for a month in a certain sector, the person is put on an additional list,” said Aurelia Bulat. A person can go to the canteen 23 days a quarter or 92 days a year. The services of the social eateries are used mainly by solitary elderly persons, families with many children on low incomes, and invalids. A public tender contest is held every December to select the economic entities that will provide the eateries with lunches. This year a lunch will cost 20-25 lei, depending on the district. There are six social eateries financed by the municipality in Chisinau.