Every gesture counts: The Orange Foundation Supports the Fund for Elderly People
The Orange Foundation donates €32,000 to the “Fund for Elderly People,” an emergency fund created by The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation, for the benefit of elderly people who have no one and are affected by loneliness, physical immobility, or poverty, in the context of social isolation caused by the novel coronavirus.
In total, approximately 400 elderly people from seven rural and urban communities will receive, around Easter, food, hygiene products, and home care services. The isolation imposed by the pandemic means loneliness and lack of access to services for elderly people. Older adults are a vulnerable group in the face of the new virus and also have the most limited mobility, as, in case of need, they can go out for only two hours per day. Lastly, elderly people have the lowest rates of internet use and general experience with technology, which makes online shopping difficult for them. From essential goods to emotional support, elderly people need the help of those around them to get through this unexpected crisis.
“In Romania, there are nearly 4 million elderly people. Many of them experience later life as an illness, in loneliness, and on top of all this, they are now the most vulnerable to infection with the new type of coronavirus. We take care of them now, when they need us the most. We stay at home, but we do not stand aside,” said Dana Deac, President of the Orange Foundation.
“We created the ‘Fund for Elderly People’ as an emergency fund to respond with care to elderly people in Romania, helping to address some of the difficulties faced by the most vulnerable among them during the pandemic. We are pleased that the Orange Foundation chose to support social and community services alongside us, thus helping people who are currently in need,” said Mugurel Mărgărit, Executive Director, The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation.
The donation was made possible with the support of funding received from the Orange Group Foundation. In total, in the context of the pandemic, the Orange Group Foundation decided to allocate €8 million to support local NGOs that launched initiatives in health and prevention aimed at limiting the spread of the new coronavirus. Furthermore, within 52 Solidarity FabLab centers funded by the foundation in seven countries, approximately 200,000 protective visors will be produced to protect healthcare staff in numerous local hospitals.
The Orange Foundation Romania is involved in the fight against COVID-19 by equipping hospitals and supporting the continuity of the educational process. Thus, the Orange Foundation supports hospitals in Romania through a €400,000 donation to the Romanian Red Cross for the purchase of mechanical ventilation equipment. At the same time, through the Digitaliada platform, the Orange Foundation supports the continuity of education and communication between teachers, students, and parents, who have permanent free access to resources and an interactive Online Learning and Testing section.
