Manisa neighborhood head expands free meal program for elderly

Ramazan Budak, the mukhtar (neighborhood head) of Karaveliler in the Yunusemre district of Manisa, has expanded a free meal program to support vulnerable residents. The initiative began approximately two years ago after Budak observed that elderly neighbors, including his own mother, were struggling to cook and occasionally suffering burns while attempting to prepare meals.

To facilitate the project, Budak converted an unused village school into a kitchen using his own resources. While the program was initially funded personally, it has since grown through donations from local philanthropists. The initiative now provides daily meals to 130 elderly, disabled, and lonely individuals across six neighborhoods: Karaveliler, Davutlar, Müslih, Örencik, Pelitalan, and Kozaklar.

Budak manages much of the preparation and distribution himself, with his wife, Elveda Budak, assisting with cleaning and packaging. Meals are prepared in large cauldrons and packaged daily around 17:00 for delivery.