Bucharest, June 2, 2020
Photo: basilica.ro
The Romanian Orthodox Church has donated nearly $5 million in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic over the past two months.
According to a new report issued by the Social-Philanthropic Sector of the Patriarchal Administration, the Church has donated $4,800,412 (4.3 million euros, 20,896,872 lei) to vulnerable people and medical institutions, reports the Basilica News Agency.
On March 23, the Patriarchate launched an online platform and a telephone hotline to receive requests for help and offers to help from companies, private donors, priests, psychologists, and volunteers for the delivery of products to the homes of the vulnerable and isolated. Each case is immediately directed to diocesan representatives.
The Social-Philanthropic Sector also concluded eight sponsorship contracts to distribute food to vulnerable people, social services, and medical units throughout the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
Local dioceses also established hotlines, websites, and Facebook pages and cooperated with state institutions to help the needy.
The Church has been able to help 180,667 people, including the isolated, the quarantined, the elderly and lonely, and the socially vulnerable. The $4.8 million in aid consisted of hot food, food packages, bottled water, bill payment, accommodation services for quarantines, transportation to medical services, donations of sanitary products and medical equipment, and electronic devices for distance education.
The donated medical equipment includes ventilators and respirators, COVID-19 tests, monitors, intubation sets, ultrasound machines, UV lamps, blood pressure gauges, stethoscopes, and much more.
Social centers run by parishes and Church organizations have also adapted their activity to the conditions imposed by the pandemic, including delivering food to people at home, and counseling and medical services have moved their services online.
