To increase the good together and help as much as possible. Monta Vecozola (from the left), a representative of the “Tavi draugi” association, with helpers, loads the donated hygiene products to be taken to Ukraine. PHOTO: from the album
“The month of our promotion has ended! We are very pleased that the people of Cēsi, in cooperation with all the libraries of Cēsi region, have collected a lot of different hygiene items! And it’s really a pleasure that we have already handed over the donation of the responsive people to the association “Your Friends” and the cargo is already on its way to Ukraine at the end of the week!” Elina Stapulone, one of its initiators, tells about the held charity campaign in which people were invited to donate hygiene products to Ukrainian women who are also actively fighting at the front.
“The bus going to Ukraine is fully loaded. Seeing what was donated, it was immediately clear that the car is not even worth reserving, because there are really a lot of things. There is great satisfaction for what has been done in this campaign, which is mixed with thoughts that the next charity campaign should be held,” says E. Stapulone.
She admits that at the beginning of the campaign, she had to wonder if there would be a response at all and, if so, how big. Therefore, it was a pleasure to see that people still care about the situation in Ukraine, the difficulties of those living there, and many are still ready to get involved and help Ukrainians even a little. “386 euros and two full pallets of hygiene products were collected. Companies and institutions also participated in the donation, including Aleksandra Bieziņa Raiskuma Elementary School, Cēsi Instructor School, Priekuļi Boxing Club. In every library where people could take the donated items, there was also a very high response,” continues the initiator of the campaign.
“A big thank you to all the organizations, to every person who was with us and supported us, and to everyone who carried things to the libraries, as well as to all those who donated to the donation account created by the association “Your Friends”. It is a great pleasure that we as a society are able to show that we care about what is happening in Ukraine, that we are not indifferent and always try and can help.”
Dace Lāce, head of the Gikši library, says about the campaign: “People need to be addressed. I had a box with the inscription “Donations to Ukraine.” No one even asked what it was for. At events at pensioners and in the library, which were held in memory of the March 25 deportations, I addressed people, and then 100 euros were donated.” Ieva Palkavniece, manager of the Skujene library, says about the local people’s activity: “Currently, people no longer want to hear, maybe even see. It is painful to realize that the horrors of war are just around the corner. When residents are approached about the possibility of donating, the answer is: “We are struggling to make ends meet and cannot donate at the moment.” Many people were approached, posters were put up both at the notice board of the store and near the place of practice of the family doctor. Also in the library, the poster was placed near the door and in other prominent places. But unfortunately there was no response.” Things have been better in Zoseni, as the manager of the parish library, Irene Prīse, says, there has been no lack of response: “The women of Zoseni unanimously said that we must help Ukraine by any means. We cannot allow the war to enter Latvia as well.”
