Rize bakery launches campaign for the poor

A bakery in the province of Rize has initiated a campaign called "hanging bread" to provide free bread to those who are facing financial difficulties and have trouble buying food.

The owners of the bakery ask their customers – those who are willing – to leave the change they receive from their purchase with the cashier, allowing bakers to make bread for the poor with the money collected. At the end of the day, the owners take loaves of bread to people in need. One of the employees of the bakery, Dilek Yazıcılar, said the city's poor are very appreciative of the baker's program. "We leave the extra loaves of bread hanging and those who are in need come here to collect them. Sometimes we take bread to their homes. Our customers who want to participate in this campaign can donate money for the cause or leave their change at the register after their purchase is complete," Yazıcılar said.

She also stressed that people have shown a great amount of interest in the effort. "Students especially who do not have a lot of money come here to collect the hanging bread. People also visit our bakery solely to donate money," Yazıcılar added. One of the bakery's customers, Ömer Kaya, said he appreciates the efforts of the bakery's owners to assist those in need. "This is a very good practice, and I can say that not many shop owners in Rize are as charitable as the owners of this bakery. I read news of similar practices elsewhere in the newspaper but this is the first time I have seen such a practice in Rize. God willing, this practice will continue and those who are in need will receive their bread. I believe that all locals in Rize should participate in this campaign," he said.