Soup, Solace, and the Warmth of Community

Ashot Hayrapetyan, 66, doesn’t think his life is particularly remarkable. He describes it as ordinary, even monotonous. But there was a time when things were different—when he was a young journalist with a promising career ahead of him.

“Before the Soviet collapse, I worked at Navasard, Hrushak, and Urbat newspapers, covering everyday life and sports. But everything changed in the 1990s. I lost my job, and after that, I had to take on whatever work I could find just to get by,” he says.

About ten years ago, after his wife passed away, Ashot found himself struggling to cope. He and his only son barely managed. That’s when he discovered FAR’s Nor Nork Soup Kitchen. The first time he tried borshch there, it instantly took him back to childhood—to the taste of the soup his mother used to make.

“I love soups. They make them just like homemade here,” he says with a smile. “Sometimes, after a bowl of soup, you don’t even need a second course; it’s that filling.” But it’s not just the food that keeps him coming back. It’s the warmth of the people, the kind staff and the familiar faces, like Andranik, a former lawyer, or Srbuhi, a singer.

For Andranik, the soup kitchen has been an unexpected refuge. “I never imagined finding solace in a place like this,” he admits. “But the staff is incredibly kind, the food is delicious, and there’s always someone to talk to. It’s become a bright spot in my life.”

At FAR’s Nor Nork Soup Kitchen, 170 people-mostly elderly, low-income individuals, many struggling with illness, receive hot meals five days a week. But more than that, they find connection, dignity, and a place where they are seen and heard.

Help us continue to provide nourishment and community for those who need it most. Consider donating to FAR today!

Sponsored by the Dadourian Family Foundation of NY, USA, the Nor Nork Soup Kitchen provides nutritious, hot meals to approximately 170 elderly and underprivileged individuals five days a week.