Unsung heroes
Some time ago I’ve made several posts about some of my heroes.
Real people, of flesh and blood. Some of them sadly gone. People with flaws and faults like any one of us but who in spite of all their human faults have made huge contributions into making this a better world.
Yet there are many unsung heroes. Anonymous people who do their best to help others. People who take some of their time to volunteer thus bringing some hope and solace to those less fortunate.
Today I’d like to talk about two Portuguese organizations: Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome and Assistência Médica Internacional (I am sorry to say their sites are writen in Portuguese only).
The first one (translates into Food Bank Against Hunger) collects food from several sources (from private donors to surplus from big companies) and hands it to families and institutions that can’t afford to buy that food. All the food supplied by Banco Alimentar respects the most strict rules of safety and hygiene and it is only supplied to those who need it. Almost all of the work is done by volunteers and the institution makes no profit whatsoever.
The second ones (International Medical Assistance) send relief teams to catastrophe areas and to underdeveloped countries (emergency medical help, sanitary systems recovery, aid to refugees, etc…), while at the same time provide medical and social assistance to the underprivileged here in Portugal.
Maybe there is no chance most of you will ever donate to these two institutions nor work with them, but surely there are similar projects in your country.
Some other fellow bloggers already volunteer to help others, like Gordy in the Habitat for Humanity.
Others like Aunty Marianne from ECHO work on a larger scale.
Probably I am being unfair by not mentioning others, but that is due to ignorance regarding their activities.
Whatever your free time and your financial capacity is surely there is something you can do to help others. Why not give it a try?
Have a nice weekend you all!
Real people, of flesh and blood. Some of them sadly gone. People with flaws and faults like any one of us but who in spite of all their human faults have made huge contributions into making this a better world.
Yet there are many unsung heroes. Anonymous people who do their best to help others. People who take some of their time to volunteer thus bringing some hope and solace to those less fortunate.
Today I’d like to talk about two Portuguese organizations: Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome and Assistência Médica Internacional (I am sorry to say their sites are writen in Portuguese only).
The first one (translates into Food Bank Against Hunger) collects food from several sources (from private donors to surplus from big companies) and hands it to families and institutions that can’t afford to buy that food. All the food supplied by Banco Alimentar respects the most strict rules of safety and hygiene and it is only supplied to those who need it. Almost all of the work is done by volunteers and the institution makes no profit whatsoever.
The second ones (International Medical Assistance) send relief teams to catastrophe areas and to underdeveloped countries (emergency medical help, sanitary systems recovery, aid to refugees, etc…), while at the same time provide medical and social assistance to the underprivileged here in Portugal.
Maybe there is no chance most of you will ever donate to these two institutions nor work with them, but surely there are similar projects in your country.
Some other fellow bloggers already volunteer to help others, like Gordy in the Habitat for Humanity.
Others like Aunty Marianne from ECHO work on a larger scale.
Probably I am being unfair by not mentioning others, but that is due to ignorance regarding their activities.
Whatever your free time and your financial capacity is surely there is something you can do to help others. Why not give it a try?
Have a nice weekend you all!
posted by DCveR at 3:04 PM
3 Comments:
I agree that we all need to help one another and poor countries.
One thing that's always bugged me is the number of charities!
It takes so much money to run one that by the time, all these costs have been deducted, the donated funds will have dwindled considerably.
It would be a DREAM to amalgamate all these charities to work together and give more of the donations to those who need them most.
But I know it is a DREAM...
cream: Unlike most ONGs these two don't give money to those who need, they offer either food and goods or medical assistance and work force. It's true that with many organizations the amount of money that reaches those who need is small. That is one of the reasons I've been done some work for the first one (and I am planning on going back as soon as we're settled in our new place) and I usually give some money to the second. Yes, they do take money, to pay for operating expenses, like traveling expenses and logistics expenses, but you can't expect doctors and nurses to pay for their expenses, they are after all offering their time and skills already.
This is a lovely post. I am looking at doing something to help organisations that are affilliated with my illness and research. It's good to be reminded of acts of human kindness :-)
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