Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Ministry of Russian Orthodox Church () is one of the Synodal Departments of the Russian Orthodox Church. It conducts social service of Russian Orthodox Church in Russia and abroad and organizes new social projects. The department supervises work of more than 3500 church social institutions, projects and initiatives of the Russian Orthodox Church on the territory of Russia and abroad including more than 70 rehabilitation centers for drug addicts, 29 shelters for pregnant women in need, 40 asylums for old people, more than 70 orthodox asylums for homeless, and it coordinates 300 sisterhoods of mercy. Mission The goal of the Church Social establishments and all the charitable activities is showing of love, to all people, rendering assistance closer to God, restoration of God's image in people, worn-out by austerity, sufferings, consequences of sins (both one's own and of the whole society). The goal of the Church Social Work is not to duplicate the system of state social institutions, but to help the state to improve it, to add the spirit of love, faith in action, sacrificial ministry to neighbors, to the society: to offer new technologies, new forms of work. The Church should inspire the initiative of effective timely help, which aims at returning a person to the society, letting him feel the joy of life. Activity In Russia Food help Food bank. Synodal Department supports the first foodbank in Russia created by food fund "Rus" that provides needy people with products all across Russia. By 18.02.2016 it has already distributed 2 018 489 portions of food (that is equivalent to 9277 tons). Help in the cases of emergency 2010 Russian wildfires: more than 300 cars with humanitarian aid were sent to villages on fire; more than 100 million rubles were gathered to help the victims; 8 thousand volunteers took part in the sorting and dispatch of humanitarian aid; Flood in Krymsk in 2012: 20 thousand people got targeted assistance; more than 1 thousand tonnes of humanitarian aid were gathered by Russian Orthodox Church for the victims of the flood; Far East floods in 2013: 107,475,693 rubles was gathered to help the victims of the floods; Help to Ukrainian refugees and civilians in 2014-2015. Help to drug addicts There are 70 church rehabilitation centers, dozens church consulting rooms, «halfway houses» and other auxiliary services for drug addicts in Russia. Help to single mothers