| BUDAPEST, HUNGARY | DECEMBER 29, 2021 |

Scientology Volunteer Ministers: A Helping Hand Makes the Holidays Bright

Volunteer Ministers from the Church of Scientology of Budapest work with other nonprofits to make the holidays special for those in need.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers with their shopping carts loaded with food and Christmas gifts for an orphanage.

For weeks before Christmas, the bright yellow van of the Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology of Budapest was on the road, loaded with donations. From their charity actions since March 2020, the volunteers are keenly aware of the economic challenges the pandemic has created, so they wanted to ensure the holidays would be special for youngsters they’ve met through their volunteer work.

They began their holiday activities with a visit to the town of Debrecen, where the Children’s Hope Foundation cares for those with disabilities and chronic illnesses. They brought Christmas gifts for the children and durable food for their families. This included canned food, milk, cooking oil, eggs, potatoes, onions and two pallets of cleaning supplies and hygiene products. Children’s Hope Foundation then distributed the supplies to families to help them make it through these difficult times.

Throughout December the bright yellow van of the Volunteer Ministers was filled with donations to make the holidays special for families in need.

Working with another charity, the NOE Organization, the Volunteer Ministers collected and distributed food, toys and clothes to needy families. And they donated everything needed for a great Christmas dinner for those living in a children’s home in Budapest.

They also provided masks and gloves to the men and women of the ERGO Ambulance company with whom they have carried out charity work over the past 21 months.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers of Hungary headquarters is the Church of Scientology of Budapest, whose new home was dedicated in 2016 by Mr. David Miscavige, ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion.

The Church of Scientology Volunteer Ministers program is a religious social service created in the mid-1970s by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Families lined up to receive donations of food and holiday treats to make Christmas special for their families despite financial challenges.

A Volunteer Minister’s mandate is to be “a person who helps his fellow man on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.” Their creed: “A Volunteer Minister does not shut his eyes to the pain, evil and injustice of existence. Rather, he is trained to handle these things and help others achieve relief from them and new personal strength as well.”

For more information, visit the interactive timeline on the Scientology website 20/21: A Look Back & A Look Ahead.