Greek Church Promises To Boost Charity Meals

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The leader of Greece’s Orthodox Church is promising to boost its campaign to provide free meals to the poor and homeless amid the country’s deepening financial crisis.

Archbishop Ieronymos visited a central Athens food bank Thursday with members of the country’s national football team, to promote a campaign launched this week allowing supermarket shoppers to donate food to church charities.

Ieronymos said the church was handing out 10,000 portions of food per day in greater Athens, with requests for a greater amount growing “every day.”

Greece has taken harsh austerity measures since late 2009 to cut its huge budget deficits and in exchange for rescue loans from other eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund.