Our charity has donated medical devices, personal protection equipment and other goods to hospitals, clinics, ambulance stations and care homes across the country. Overall, the donations made by the charity amounted to almost PLN 50 000 000.
The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation directed its resources and expertise towards COVID-19 relief in Poland immediately after first confirmed the Polish Ministry of Health had confirmed cases of COVID-19. The main avenue of activity addressing the pandemic in the country was the purchase of medical devices and personal protective equipment for first responders and frontline medical staff.
The charity donated equipment worth PLN 48 765 372, 46. Among equipment donated by the charity, there are 200 beds for intensive care units, 34 medical ventilators (including ten transport ventilators which can be used onboard of ambulances), 2.6 million three-plier surgical masks. Please note that this sum does not include the cost of 37 additional medical ventilators which, even though have been paid for by the charity, because the company could provide the product at a much later date, were withdrawn from the COVID-19 Relief initiative.
It is also worth noting that equipment which has been donated by manufacturers and medical supply companies stands at PLN 2 503 078,54. The charity was able to give devices, such as infusion pumps, portable USG sets, and scuba-diving masks, which can be used to protect first responders against coronavirus.
Another aspect of COVID-19 Relief Initiative was aimed at addressing the needs of some of the most vulnerable people. The charity launched an initiative to help the elderly, people with pre-existing health issues, and other people more sensitive to the virus during nationally enforced lock-down. The Foundation helped volunteers and local activists get in touch with people who needed help running day-to-day errands, such as shopping or dog-walking. Over 2 000 volunteers helped 800 people, who had to observe strict social distancing rules. The initiative, dubbed "Let's Help Each-other", fostered a spirit of community and helped in trying time of pandemic and uncertain atmosphere of social isolation.
Another aspect of the charity's work to maintain community spirit in the uncertain and challenging time was the launch of daily online programme "Domowa Orkiestra" ("Home Orchestra"). The show, which airs every day since the start of the lock-down in Poland features competitions and activities for children, archive footage from the festival and other never-before-seen video material.
Thank you to all the volunteers and each individual for playing along with us for children's ophthalmology, which is the target of this year's collection. As always, we ask you - take care of yourself. Your safety is the most important thing for us!
Although one of the most spectacular moments of each Finale of the GOCC - the run of several thousand participants through the streets of Warsaw – is still few hours away, the 16th "Get Even with Diabetes" run is already underway, thanks to the virtual form, which was launched on Monday, 24th January.
The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity is committed to providing support to hospitals in Ukraine. First deliveries of humanitarian aid reached two towns in western parts of the country. We delivered devices to Rivne and Uzhorod.
