Give older people a chance to survive

For more than 18 years Caritas has been taking care of people – old and lonely, who have found themselves in a critical life situation. There are quarantine measures throughout the country and authorities are asking Ukrainians to stay at home. This is especially true of older people who are at increased risk and most difficult to tolerate the disease. 

Since the introduction of quarantine, our organization had to stop all the entertainment and cultural events that were regularly organized for senior citizens. Now attention has focused on targeted assistance. In connection with quarantine, the fund organized the work of a mobile response group of social workers. The duties of members of mobile groups include collecting applications, buying food, medicine, drinking water and other essential goods, as well as their home delivery to the elderly. After all, older people are at greatest risk during the epidemic of coronavirus infection.

During the quarantine week, employees managed to distribute more than 150 food packages, which is the monthly norm for the fund during the normal period of work. Our reserves did not provide for such emergency actions and are quickly exhausted. Today it is necessary 40 000 UAH. To form grocery sets for at least a month with all the necessary products for 100 wards of our fund. Food packages include such vital products as cereals, canned food, oil, vegetable oil, etc. And we also want to provide fruit packs to our wards, so that at least we somehow support the immunity of the elderly and enrich their diet with vitamins. It depends on our help and position whether our beneficiaries can remain at home during quarantine and be safe.

Now that everyone is concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in Ukraine, we ask you to take care not only about yourself and your loved ones, but to remember the lonely elderly people and help them comfortably wait out the quarantine at home with the least risk to their health. Let's think about the fact that there are hundreds of people living next to us who risk their lives simply by visiting the store. Let's help them avoid this risk! Old people need your help!