Athens' Christmas 'milk tree' feeds thousands of people in need

For the eight consecutive year a different Christmas tree made up with milk tins and other food products was erected in the center of Athens on Friday.

The Christmas tree of the local NGO "Doctors of the World" has a short life span - adorns the yard of the historic building of the Athens University for just one day each year - but a major mission.

The tins of milk and packages of rice, beans, sugar, olive oil and other canned food products Athenians donated throughout the day will be distributed to thousands of households in need across Greece during the holiday season.

The initiative was launched after a young patient in one of the clinics run by the NGO made a simple question to doctors treating her which revealed the pain and agony of children living in poverty.

"Eight years ago a little girl who was a patient at the clinics run by the ...