The Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service has allocated funds for the development of the Alexandria Shelter for Women at the church in honor of the Icon of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Kurgan farm of the Azov district of the Rostov region. The project became one of the winners of the second grant competition for church projects to support families, motherhood, fatherhood and childhood, which was held by the Synodal Department for Charity from April 16 to May 3, 2026.
As part of the grant, the Alexandria Orphanage received 500,000 rubles. With these funds, a mini bakery will be set up in the shelter. Special equipment and furniture have already been purchased for this purpose — dough mixers, ovens and cooking tables.
"Thanks to the fact that we were able to purchase equipment for the bakery, our mothers began to learn how to bake. Despite the fact that they don't have a profession, they can then go to work in a pastry shop or work from home and maybe sell pastries," said Galina Kochura, the project manager. — They are very pleased that there is a good oven, they are learning how to use it properly. Therefore, I really hope that this will bear fruit in the future."
The Alexandria Women's Shelter was established in 2018 with the blessing of Metropolitan Mercury of Rostov and Novocherkassk by the parish of the Assumption Church of Kurgan farm. During this time, more than 200 women have received help at the shelter, who for various reasons have found themselves in difficult life situations. The orphanage's wards include single mothers, mothers with many children, graduates of orphanages and boarding schools. A special category is pregnant women who are homeless and have no means of livelihood.: that during the work of the project, 27 children were born.
Currently, 10 women and 13 children between the ages of one and 14 live in the Alexandria orphanage.
The women receive accommodation and meals at the shelter. Classes on child care, cooking are held with them, and social and household skills are instilled. They are also taught computer literacy and sewing.
The second competition of church family projects was held by the Synodal Department for Charity from April 16 to May 3. It received 53 applications from various regions of the country. After consideration by the competition committee, 24 winners were determined.