“Respond with heart to lonely seniors!” – a campaign to support elderly people in difficult situations
The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation invites companies and individuals to join efforts to address the urgent needs of seniors
The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation is launching the Help for Romania’s Seniors Campaignto support elderly people facing difficult life situations during the holidays and throughout the coming year. Up to 5,000 seniors will benefit from material aid, practical support, and and emotional assistance through the Special Fund for Seniors program, financed through donations. Under the slogan “Respond with Heart to Lonely Seniors!”, businesspeople and company managers are invited to join efforts to support seniors’ urgent needs by directing 20% of their companies’ 2022 profit or income tax to the Foundation for this program and by redirecting unused 2021 tax through Form 177.
When the phone no longer rings
Many of the seniors around us, often seemingly invisible to the active population, live through real hardships, affected by the loss of loved ones, helplessness, material deprivation, chronic illnesses, or isolation. Reaching an advanced age without help, they wait for days for someone to visit or for the phone to ring so they can hear a voice. For them, social services, counseling, and community support are essential for a dignified life and relief from loneliness.
The statistical reality of 2022 remains discouraging for an important segment of society: Romania’s population today includes over 3.8 million seniors, of whom around 1 million live alone, and over 700,000 pensioners must make do with a monthly income below 1,000 lei.
Dozens of associations and volunteers mobilized by the Foundation
Through the generosity of companies and individual donors, the Margareta Royal Foundation of Romania has supported over 4,000 seniors so far this year and provided grants to more than 30 NGOs in Romania that, through local social services, have responded to various needs of seniors in their communities.
Since the number of people in difficulty seeking help continues to grow, the Margareta Royal Foundation of Romania aims to assist up to 5,000 seniors next year, through its own social projects and social partners. To support the urgent needs of elderly people, the Foundation maintains an active network of social services in various communities and mobilizes dozens of volunteers. Additionally, the Foundation aims in 2023 to expand social projects to new geographic areas and launch new services.
The Special Fund for Seniors was launched by the Margareta Royal Foundation of Romania in March 2020 as an emergency fund to address the pressing needs of seniors in Romania and to manage social isolation caused by the coronavirus. The Fund now supports seniors from any area of the country, especially those affected by loneliness, physical immobility, poor health, poverty, or social exclusion — difficult life situations.
Over 12,000 seniors in Romania have been supported by the Foundation so far, through meeting various needs, including: material aid – social vouchers, hygiene or paramedical supplies, essential goods; practical support – home care or housekeeping, delivery of groceries or medication, social counselling and guidance toward accessible community support services emotional support, through services aimed at alleviating loneliness or free psychological counseling.
How can companies and individuals contribute?
For seniors in difficult situations, time is not an ally. The Margareta Royal Foundation of Romania aims to help around 5,000 seniors in 2023, and additional resources are needed for such support. For this reason, the Foundation calls for the involvement of companies and individuals.
Companies can redirect 20% of the tax owed to the state for fiscal year 2022 to a social cause and can redirect amounts representing sponsorships if the sponsorship expenditure in 2021 did not exceed the limit for 2021, by signing a sponsorship contract and submitting Form 177 to the Romanian Tax Authority (ANAF).
Individuals can also make a monthly donation via fundatiaregala.ro/ or donate monthly 2 Euro via SMS to 8844 with the text SINGUR..
Funds raised will continue to be used by the Foundation for:
- Facilitating seniors’ access to urgently needed services: home care, social canteens, day centers, or social clinics
- Material aid, through packages or social vouchers, for seniors in the most difficult life situations
- Supporting organisations or volunteer networks that deliver medication or groceries to homes
- Involving seniors in volunteer activities at children’s centers, so they can feel useful and valued
- Creating a holiday atmosphere through home-delivered meals or organized meals for lonely seniors alongside volunteers
- Providing psychological counseling and emotional support for seniors with depression or anxiety
Companies wishing to contribute can download and complete the contract(s) HERE.
Individuals can contribute with a monthly donation by accessing fundatiaregala.ro/donationline.
