In many places in Poland, donations are being collected for flood victims. The needs are enormous and literally anything will come in handy. Individuals, companies and foundations are getting involved in the help. Donation warehouses opened in many places are filling up because so many people want to help. Flood victims can also be supported by donating to specially established collections.
Collections for flood victims are underway across the country. – We leave home because there is an evacuation. We only take documents. What are we left with? Nothing – describes Małgorzata Musiał, the organizer of the collection in Stargard.
Bottled water, long-lasting food and cleaning products are the most important things right now, but flood victims, many of whom have lost everything they own, need literally everything.
– Towels, blankets, but also batteries, power banks, flashlights, baby diapers, baby milk – lists Maciej Mizgalski from the Academy of Art in Szczecin and the organizer of the collection. – We will modify these lists depending on the needs and what we currently know is needed – he adds.
Warm clothing is needed. There are also requests for pet food. The organizers of the collections ask that the clothes or products brought in be packed in boxes and at least pre-sorted, which will make it easier for them to be transported further.
Floods in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Austria. “It's worse than in 1997”Anna Czerwińska/Fakty TVN
– It will be easiest if we get, for example, sorted clothes. If we get such a mix in a bag, it should be separated at least into children, adults, women, men – says Małgorzata Musiał.
In Stargard, volunteers can collect the donations themselves. – We have a great team, great people here with vans, cars, who will go home, go to Stargard, bring it here for you, and we all just collect it – appeals Michał Łozowski, the organizer of the collection in Stargard.
Mrs. Katarzyna from Ukraine, in order to deliver the gifts to the warehouse in Stargard, first traveled by bus and then walked a considerable distance, carrying bags. – Poles helped Ukrainians very well when it was necessary, so we want to help too – says Mrs. Katarzyna.
From the first moment the collections began, residents of all cities rushed to help. Also in Białystok. – I brought pasta, flour, groats. Such basic products – says a resident of the city. – I came to visit my daughter, we did some shopping. We felt that it was necessary – says Mrs. Beata.
Who runs the collections?
If you want to help the victims, it is worth remembering to direct support through well-known and proven institutions. At the moment, collections are being conducted by, among others:
– Polish Red Cross,
– organizers of the Mountain Festival, which takes place in Lądek-Zdrój,
– The interest in providing this assistance is so great that we have already opened a second point on Turystyczna Street, in the facility of the Municipal Family Assistance Centre – informs the mayor of Kielce, Agata Wojda.
In Warsaw, gifts for flood victims can be brought to the warehouse of the “Filtry” water treatment plant and all district offices. Residents of the capital rushed to help on Sunday.
In Krakow, the collection started at Aleja Jana Pawła II 188. – There will be a hotline, everyone will know where they can bring what items – informs Dariusz Nowak, head of the Press Office of the Krakow City Hall.
Flood victims from Kłodzko, one of the cities most affected by the flood, can also be helped by making a payment to the commune's account.
Where possible, Caritas has opened soup kitchens and is preparing meals for those affected.
– Diocesan Caritas have their own resources, including soup kitchens that are primarily aimed at people in a homeless crisis. Meals for flood victims will also be cooked there and delivered to them – says Marcin Majewski, spokesman for Caritas Polska.
More help will definitely be needed
Caritas will also provide flood victims with 100 dehumidifiers and 50 power generators over the next few dozen hours. The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity has also launched funds for aid.
– Ladies and gentlemen, we are also starting immediately. We are releasing the sum of PLN 40 million for current needs for all those who need this help – said the president of the board of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation, Jerzy Owsiak.
Once an accurate estimate of the damage can be made, further assistance will certainly be needed.
– These people are in a situation where they have lost, for example, home appliances, and therefore there may be a need to supplement this equipment, donate a washing machine, various kinds of things – says Silesian Voivode Marek Wójcik.
At this point, any support, even the smallest, is very important.
Main image source: TVN24