Angelo Conti
Close to Ukraine, really close. Specchio dei tempi was the first Italian foundation to launch a subscription in favour of Ukraine on Sunday 27 February. At the same time, its sister foundation, Specchio d’Italia, which operates throughout Italy, immediately took action to support the collection. When the two foundations opened the subscription, they made available 100,000 euro of their own funds, to which private donations from everyone – citizens, families, schools and companies – were immediately added. Yesterday evening the collection exceeded 400,000 euro.
How we are using donations for Ukraine
What have we done to help the Ukrainians? The first emergency appeared to be the hundreds of thousands of refugees crossing the Polish and Hungarian borders. Within a few hours, we contacted voluntary associations, local authorities and journalists from local newspapers in those countries to get a good understanding. It became clear that while there were no problems on the Hungarian border (the Hungarian reception system was efficient and met all the needs of those arriving), the situation on the two main routes between Ukraine and Poland was quite different. On Monday, the first shuttles, financed and supported by our foundation, were already on their way to these areas. On Wednesday night, the first refugees arrived in Italy, reaching first Brescia and then Turin.
A chain of shuttles for humanitarian aid
Since then, the shuttle service has been running on a daily basis: 9-seater mini-buses, but also a 54-seater coach, which has just left today and will be used frequently next week. Obviously, these vehicles have also begun to transport basic necessities: mainly foodstuffs with a long shelf life, personal hygiene products, medicines and various medical supplies (with particular demand for syringes, bandages, plasters and disinfectants).
Welcoming Ukrainian refugees in Turin
Meanwhile, in Turin, the il Comitato di Coordinamento della Regione Piemonte (Coordination Committee of the Piedmont Region) has entrusted us with the task of assisting the families of arriving refugees, offering them immediate economic support. To this end, in close collaboration with the Ukrainian Consulate and its volunteers, an emergency telephone number has been activated, available to those who arrive.
What we will do next week
Next week’s programme includes intensifying connections with the borders to transport refugees to Italy, but also sending medical supplies and food to those who have decided to stay in Ukraine, some to fight, some unable to move for health reasons, some out of attachment to their homeland.
We will continue to be close to the Ukrainian people. Everyone can give us a hand to be even more incisive and more capable of bringing comfort to desperate people.
How to help the people of Ukraine
If you want to help the Ukrainian people you can donate by clicking here, with a credit card or Paypal. Or you can pay by bank transfer to the account in the name of Fondazione La Stampa – Specchio dei tempi ONLUS, via Lugaro 15 – 10126 Torino, IBAN: IT67 L0306909 6061 0000 0117 200, Banca Intesa Sanpaolo. In the reason for payment: “For the people of Ukraine”. All payments, except those in cash, are tax deductible.
