"Help, food is life" action of food collecting in TEMPO Mega market

THE FOOD BANK has realized the first planed action of food collecting in mega market in cooperation with TEMPO Center. The action was organized under the slogan "Help, food is life!" in Tempo building in Novi Beograd (close to the wholesale market). The idea of the action was to motivate citizens to help people around them and to develop the feeling of solidarity between people.

When buying food for their own needs, citizens had an opportunity to buy some of the articles for the children in J.Jovanovic Zmaj Home at Vozdovac, to whom this donation was assigned. Many of THE FOOD BANK volunteers were instructing people in the mega market about which aliments are the most necessary, which is the idea of the action, they were giving the information about our organization, about poverty etc.

Although this kind of action was organized for the first time in our country (food banks in the rest of the world very often collect aid and in this way gather big quantity of aliments), our citizens responded immediately and in huge number. This way they demonstrated their humanity, care for people around them and that kindness is not expensive. For only several hours, 400 kg of basic victuals were collected (flower, sugar, oil, pasta, rice...), but also sweets (chocolate, biscuits, candy) and fruit-juices which children are the most pleased about.

A few companies have expressed their wish to help the youngsters in the Residence and at this occasion they have offered their products. Our strategic partner, COCA COLA HBC has offered 1,5 t  of their beverages (juices and water), CENTROPROIZVOD has presented Cipiripi cream (100 kg) and Agroživ - 55 kg of various meat products.

Total quantity of collected aliments (about 2 t) was handed on Tuesday, June 26^th at the Home for Children and Youth Jovan Jovanović Zmaj in Braća Jerković settlement. This donation will provide two months needs of the Central kitchen in this Residency that prepares meals for children in five residencies, totally - 400 children.

The chief of this kitchen, Ljiljana Ljujic has expressed great gratitude for help and has emphasized that particularly the beverages have arrived in the right moment for the barbecue which was organized that day in occasion of the end of the school year.

The food is the great delight for these children. As soon as they finish their meal, they are in the kitchen again in order to see what is prepared and if they have some sweets to eat - we were told by the chief Ljilja, who understands these children probably the best because she herself has spent her childhood in a residence for unattended children.

The joy of these friendly and unified children was completed by the arrival of our distinguished actress Ljiljana Blagojevic. Through a friendly conversation with children and employees in The Home J.J.Zmaj, she has emphasized that each child has deserved to be fill and joyful and that this kind of actions of assistance to the imperiled have a wide social importance and that we should respond to them as much as possible!

Many persons and companies have helped us in preparing this first successful action in the mega market - the friends of our project: Société Générale, Doncafe group and Micronet, than OM Ogilvy agency, DPC, Grafika Galeb Nis, Media center, GLM and SRMA, the above mentioned strategic partner Coca cola, Centroproizvod, Agroživ and Tempo, who has helped us very professionally in preparing this action. At this occasion, we express our cordial gratitude to all mentioned above for their cooperation!  

At the same time, we are very thankful for their precious help to our hardworking volunteers: Mina, Ana, Irena, Milica, Sanja Dž., Ivan, Mateja, Marko, Miloš, Danilo, Marija, Sanja T.,Vesna, Goca, Doca, Ljilja K., Ljilja U., Grada, Slavko, Zvonko, Miloš C.

The next action of collecting the aliments in the mega market will take place middle of October in occasion of the International Day of Food and The International Day of Fight against hunger. All the interested volunteers and donators are welcome!