Greek Orthodox priest Gervasios Raptopoulos has dedicated his life to paying off prison sentences of inmates jailed for minor offences. Greek law allows these prisoners to buy their freedom at an average of 5 euros per day, placing those in lower classes at a disadvantage when it comes to paying.

The 83-year-old priest comes to their rescue and has managed to save some 15,000 people over a period of four decades. The law applies to people who are convicted of crimes that carry prison sentences of less than five years, such as petty fraud, bodily harm, weapons possession, resisting arrest and minor drugs offenses.

The economic crisis has led to a shortage in charity funds and an increase in inmates who can’t afford to pay their way out of prison. What’s worst, prison conditions are worst than ever due to the crisis and people behind bars need money to buy necessities such as toilet paper and soap. Once a month, the priest hands out gift bags with clothing, a religious icon and toiletry items.

“Once, we gave a man 8.5 euros, which was what he lacked to gain his freedom,” said the priest. “But in exceptional cases we have gone over our limit, giving a man up to 10,000 euros for one prisoner. He was ill and had many children.”

When prisoners die, the charity also helps pay for the cost of transport to ensure that their bodies return to their families.

“Our society rejects inmates and pushes them into the margins,” he told to Associated Press. “People often say, ‘It serves them right.'”

The charity has received awards by the state since it was founded in 1978, however those most grateful are the prisoners. Former inmates often go to the charity’s base at the outskirts of Playiari, 25 kilometers away from Thessaloniki. Some people repay the debt they received.