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President Gitanas Nausėda’s intention to become a volunteer at least shortly before the holidays was announced by his top adviser, Simon Krėpšta, during a press conference on Wednesday.
The president plans to speak to lonely people on the phone tomorrow, but he also plans to get involved in the activities of these four non-governmental organizations and do the work that is most needed during this holiday period. What will be done will be specified ”, he assured.
Avoid working remotely
Deimantė Bukeikaitė, Secretary General of Carito Lithuania, also participated in the press conference. The organization, he said, had to adapt to the new working conditions that emerged with the spread of COVID-19.
“The time of the pandemic is threatening, it scares us all, it calls us to isolate ourselves as much as possible, to maintain physical distances, but that does not mean that we should promote social exclusion, closeness. We need to reorganize our activities and make sure that services reach people, ”said D. Bukeikaitė, noting that the organization tried to work with people directly and not as remotely as possible.
When comparing the consequences of the first and second quarantines, D. Bukeikaitė noticed that the population was beginning to lack food.
“The main need our organization felt during the second wave of the pandemic is food shortages. Comparing the waves of the pandemic, we note that the number of people arriving in our food distribution areas and dining rooms has tripled, ”said a Carito spokeswoman.
He gave some examples to prove it: the number of people willing to receive hot food in Telšiai increased by 40, and in Vilnius, by more than 200 people.
Hardship for homeless, elderly
According to D.Bukeikaitė, this happened because the population lost part of their income during the pandemic and allocated available funds for other needs.
“People’s financial situation has changed. Some people have been forced into downtime, the job market is shrinking a bit, there are layoffs, which means that people’s incomes have decreased; it is estimated that about 30 percent. people’s incomes fell during the pandemic. People spend money on the current needs of their other family: pay utilities, taxes, rent, health, medicine, little food left, let’s say a few euros a week for the family, ”said Carito’s secretary general.
Photo by Martynas Ambrazas / Deimantė Bukeikaitė
He said the COVID-19 pandemic had made it difficult for homeless people to find places to take refuge, increasing the need for help for low-skilled families and older people who were unable to care for themselves.
The Secretary General of Carito has no doubt that quarantine and COVID-19 will have a negative impact on people’s mental health.
“This will be one of the areas where you will have to think about additional measures to help restore emotional health,” said D. Bukeikaitė.
True, she said she was under the impression that people had coexisted with COVID-19 over time and had become more involved in volunteering.
Of course, there is a shortage of volunteers.
“It is clear that during the second wave of the pandemic, people are responding more courageously to volunteering. Of course, there is a lack of volunteers, we keep saying that. Help is constantly needed,” said D. Bukeikaitė.
Volunteers needed in Panevėžys, Alytus, Kaunas
The Red Cross Society, which brings together teams of volunteers for hospitals and welfare homes, is also seeking help.
Across Lithuania, according to the society’s data, more than 1.2 thousand people responded to the call for help. volunteers.
Photo by Josvydas Elinskas / 15min / Kristina Meidė
“I bow my head against those people who responded so quickly to the cry for help. In four days we have 1,200 registered volunteers who are willing to dedicate their time both at Christmas and at Christmas. Hospital Santara, for example, has a schedule where our hands are needed until 2 pm at night, even at night.
I am really impressed with the citizenship of the Lithuanian people and offering to help when it is most needed, ”said Kristina Meidė, General Secretary of the Lithuanian Red Cross, during the press conference.
If nothing unforeseen happens, there will be enough volunteers in Vilnius for a while, now they are being sought in other cities: Panevėžys, Alytus, Kaunas.
I bow my head against those people who responded so quickly to the cry for help.
“The staff is sick. We really need help – assured K. Meidė. – There is less need for volunteers there. The first cleanings are already being organized today. I cannot say that the situation is catastrophic, but I invite you to register, because the situation can change during the day. “
Lack of live contact
When asked to tell how, in her eyes, people’s needs are changing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Red Cross secretary general said that people are experiencing exclusion. This is said to be the most difficult.
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“I think emotional exclusion is a more painful topic for us today. Especially that second wave, quarantine, people locked in isolation: loneliness has really increased. Today, we are especially protective of our grandparents: we communicate remotely or deliver food and medicines at the door just to avoid contact. We are very sorry that there is a lack of people in direct contact. Today we are trying to solve this by phone and other means, “taught K. Meidė.
During the festive period, strict quarantine conditions will apply throughout Lithuania: only members of a family and / or a household will be allowed to meet at home, and until January 3, the movement of people between municipalities will be restricted.
Press conference:
VIDEO: Presidential press conference after meeting with representatives of non-governmental organizations
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