20 companies participated in the spring collection of clothes and supplies which we organized in cooperation with BLF companies and the working group Corporate Volunteering. Proceeds from the collection went to Bratislava, Nitra, Žilina, Jelšava, Košice, Prievidza, Kláštor pod Znievom, Orava, Humenné, Sečovce, Šamorín, and many other towns and villages in Slovakia. Altogether, we succeeded in collecting almost 8 tonnes of clothes and supplies. All the collected things were divided among 19 organizations, which will distribute them to people in need living in their facilities or in their surroundings.

“We have collected spring and summer clothing and footwear. In addition, we’ve also got 3 prams, a childseat, a TV set, and a microwave oven,” says Marek Richter, Programme Manager at the Pontis Foundation.

“The things we had got were beautiful. Perfectly clean, just for us. We have distributed the things to families which take proper and exemplary care of their children. What does it mean? That children are always dressed in clean clothes. Not in new but clean clothes! Many collections I have been involved in taught me to notice these things, so we looked for responsible owners for the clothes.  For example, I have known Ivanka for three years, but this is the first time that, thanks to you, I have seen her wearing perfect stylish jeans… And this is only one of many examples,” said Monika Podolinská from the primary school in Muránska Dlhá Lúká and added: “Toys and books will remain in the school. This way, they will be available to everyone. For the youngest ones it is like a fairy tale. They love books although they cannot read yet. Toys develop their imagination and support the development of their creativity. They offer them the possibility to remain in the children’s world. Thanks :-)”

We have organized collections in companies based in seven Slovak cities: Bratislava, Nitra, Žilina, Prievidza, Martin, Poprad, and Košice.

The employees of the following 20 companies have contributed to the collection:

Accenture, Citibank, Danone, ESET, Foxconn, HP, Honeywell, IBM, Kia Motors Slovakia, KPMG, Orange, Philip Morris Slovakia, PricewaterhouseCoopers Slovensko, Skanska, Stredoslovenská energetika, Tatra banka, TNT Express Worldwide, VÚB, and Whirlpool. The companies were joined by the Pontis Foundation.

The collected things have been donated to 19 organizations: 

Civic Association Ain Karim – Šamorín, Civic Association Vagus, the Slovak Humanitarian Council, Crisis Centre Dúha, Domov sv. Jána z Boha, Dom svitania Jakubov, Community Centre Jelšava, Gaudeamus, Primary School Muránska Dlhá Lúka, Domov pre každého, Civic Association Persona, Black White Horse, Community Centre at Predmestie, Diocese Charity Žilina, Depaul Slovensko, Pokoj a dobro – pomoc utečencom, Dorka Košice, charity organization Dom. sv. Vincenta in Prievidza, and Civic Association Dobrý Pastier in Kláštor pod Znievom.

The non-profit organizations received

• 6,913 kg of clothes for children and adults,
• 245 kg of toiletries, cosmetics, and kitchen supplies,
• 441 kg of soft furnishings and bed linen,
• 281 kg of sports goods, school and relaxation supplies,
• 87 kg of creative supplies for sheltered workshops and other supplies.