In August 2013, our Foundation's national network was expanded with a new branch in Pécs, which in September will provide back-to-school support to 200 local families. The Pécs office is the result of a completely grassroots initiative.
In Pécs, the history of food distributions goes back many years: in the past decade, our volunteers have organised food and food parcels on many occasions in connection with special holidays, but the year-round help to local people in need has not been possible until now. Now, however, one of our active volunteers, Zsuzsa Kollár, who works at the former Baranya County Hospital, has started a small charity movement among her colleagues.
The initiative is based on the principle of „many small things make a big difference”: Zsuzsa asked her immediate colleagues to support the nascent aid programme with small monthly donations for a year. Donations have become almost a fashionable movement at the hospital. Thanks to this, the plan soon grew into tangible help, as the local volunteer team was able to put together more and more food parcels each month, first for the local day care centre for the mentally disabled, and later for families with many children in need.
Starting in May this year, 50 aid packages a month will be distributed to families with children by volunteers through schools, thanks to donations from health workers. Working with schools is proving to be extremely effective, as teachers themselves are best placed to identify children from families in greatest need through their day-to-day contact with pupils. The donation can then go to the best place.
Seeing the enthusiastic and successful cooperation of the Pécs volunteer team, the Foundation has also allocated funds to further support the monthly aid programmes, so that more and more people in need can receive help in Pécs and its surroundings.. Word of the programmes is spreading fast and, as it is a credible and genuinely useful initiative, the number of supporters is growing. Donations are now coming in regularly from several departments of the County Hospital, and more and more companies and individuals in the city are helping to run the relief operations.
The start of school in autumn is a challenging time for some aid agencies, as for many families it is a very demanding period, both financially and emotionally. The need to buy school supplies, adjust to the school timetable and the ever-increasing financial problems leave many families vulnerable. The programme's volunteers are therefore planning to support the start of the semester with a special food parcel distribution. On Friday 13 September, during school hours from 8am to 12pm, packets will be distributed at 6 local schools. The aid packages will now provide 200 families with tangible and immediate help.
The establishment of the office in Pécs and the humanitarian work carried out there is a very good example of the power of cooperation and individual responsibility! If we are willing to notice the need of others and not to pass by it, but to try to do something for our fellow human beings in need, then we can achieve really great results.. This initiative not only improves the lives of individuals, but also the daily lives of the community. It shows that, despite the difficulties and problems we all face today, it is still possible to care for others and, by working together, we can make a real difference to the lives of others. And he who gives, always receives! If nothing else, it is the certainty that you are part of a community where people, despite their individual difficulties, despite the many disagreements and differences of opinion that are so pervasive today, are able to work together, to join forces and to work together for a good cause.
Thanks to Zsuzsa and her volunteers for bringing this program to life and for organizing the Pécs office's relief activities with unbroken enthusiasm! Thanks to the operating staff of the County Hospital, Honvéd Hospital, Oral Surgery Clinic, Ophthalmology Clinic and Urology Clinic. Thank you to the staff of other areas of the County Hospital, and to all those who have also pledged to support our efforts with regular donations for at least a year, and to those who have supported our work with any donations or services!
Donations are gratefully accepted to the following bank account number:
10400779-49574954-52491002