The Hellenic Initiative Australia (THI Australia) has today launched its Winter Appeal for Greece and invites the Greek diaspora and Philhellenes to support the vulnerable communities which need immediate help this winter.
As the bitter winter cold arrives, many Greek compatriots are already suffering the effects of the recent natural disasters that hit Greece – the fires, earthquakes and floods – and many are bracing for the next wave of the COVID19 pandemic.
According to THI Australia’s CEO, Stergitsa Zamagias-Hill, the organisation’s trusted partner charities in Greece say that, once again, there will be an ‘urgent need for food produce, care packages, emergency accommodation, medical assistance and basic necessities to support many vulnerable communities – including families and individuals living below the poverty line and the elderly who live alone.’
THI Australia and its generous supporters successfully raised $100,000 for its 2020 Winter Appeal and enabled it to provide:
• Six tonnes of food produce to three charities, Aspres Petaloudes (Volos), Kivotos tou Kosmou (Chios, Epirus, Kalamata) and Konstanteio Home for the Elderly (Kavala).
• Access to monthly supermarket vouchers for families living below the poverty line for a 6 month period, with access to psychological support.
• The delivery of hundreds of care packages, PPE kits, and over a thousand hot meals in Athens and Thessaloniki, and
• Temporary accommodation and rental assistance for destitute families and individuals in the Attica region.
The Winter Appeal has showcased the Hellenic diaspora’s compassion and empathy and restored dignity to people who have found themselves at very low and vulnerable points in their lives.
It will take only 5 minutes to make a gift, and yet it can transform a vulnerable life.
• $50 can purchase a care package with basic necessities.
• $75 can purchase 3 Hope Boxes providing 18 kilos of food produce or a food voucher.
• $100 can enable a person sleeping rough or an elderly person to have one bag of clothes laundered weekly, for 5 months by a mobile laundry service.
• $250 can provide access to medical and psychological support services.
• $500 can provide temporary accommodation, one-off rental assistance for struggling families who are facing eviction and require assistance with utility bills.
NOTE: Donations to The Hellenic Initiative Australia are tax deductible in Australia.
