In Serbia, many unnoticed yet truly great heroes live and work—people who, through their actions, prove that good people are humanity’s greatest wealth. One such quiet and unassuming, yet truly genuine heroine is Miroslava Stevanović from Čačak, the oldest volunteer at the Red Cross Public Kitchen, and certainly among the oldest in Serbia and the region. Her help to the cooks preparing large numbers of meals daily is truly invaluable.
Mira worked as a cleaner at the “Bambi” kindergarten, and even then she found time to help those in need. Since retiring three years ago, she has continued volunteering. Her volunteer career spans an impressive 20 years. This woman shows up every day, completely voluntarily, at 7 a.m. at the Public Kitchen.
“While I was working, I managed to balance both my job and volunteering. My husband was also a volunteer for 30 years, until his death, and somehow it was our shared will and mission, which I have continued. Nothing is hard for me, I love to work and to be useful. I love to help others as much as I can. In the Public Kitchen, I help the cooks prepare the meals and distribute them to the users,” this wonderful woman told RINA.
However, Miroslava is not only there to help distribute meals; she is also there to offer each person at the Public Kitchen a warm look and a kind word. Along with the bread and hot soup, she gives them a glimpse of hope that they are not alone and will never be forgotten, as long as people like her exist. And there are such people.
“Thank God, my health is good, and as long as I can, I will continue volunteering and being here for these wonderful people. I plan to do this for another ten years. I am also here to listen to their sad stories, to talk with them, but also to laugh together. Every morning I get up at five, drink my coffee, and head to the Red Cross,” said Mira.
Proud of such a dedicated volunteer is also the Secretary of the Red Cross in Čačak, Nataša Cvijović, who emphasized that it is a great honor and pleasure to have such a unique example— a volunteer with decades of experience in humanitarian work.
“Miroslava Stevanović has 20 years of volunteer service in the Red Cross Public Kitchen. When it comes to following the rules, she respects them just like our employees. It’s especially important to mention that Miroslava Stevanović’s family has given a total of 50 years of volunteer work, as her late husband Radiša was also a volunteer for 30 years. She continued on that path while also working at the PU Radost, and with us. This is a wonderful family, wonderful people with big hearts. She always offers kind words to the users, she is polite and kind,” said Nataša Cvijović.
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She added that due to her great contribution, Miroslava will be nominated to the Red Cross of Serbia for one of the highest honors awarded by the organization.
The Red Cross Public Kitchen in Čačak currently serves about 700 users, a third of whom are children. During five days of the week, the hot meal includes vegetables with plenty of meat and, of course, bread. On the sixth day, lunch packages are distributed. The hot meals are delivered at six distribution points: Red Cross Čačak, MZ Park, Atenica, Ljubić Kej, Mrčajevci, and Slatina – Mršinci.
“Among the users are not only the poor—sadly, poverty is often accompanied by illness. That’s why I want to highlight our excellent cooperation with the Center for Social Work and the local government. Our shared mission is to ensure that the people of Čačak are not hungry, to help them,” concluded Cvijović.
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Source: RINA, Foto: RINA