FROM MAYOR TO MAYOR

Orvieto

CITTASLOW, SOLIDARITY WITH THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE AND REFUGEES IN POLAND

Solidarity project of the Cittaslow Network in collaboration with the Associated Civil Protection Function of Orvieto, Italian and Polish Cittaslow Municipalities and the German National Network.

On 11 May the mission funded by the Cittaslow Network fundraiser will start in close collaboration with the Civil Protection of Orvieto, to bring aid to the Ukrainian population, in particular to the hundreds of thousands of refugees temporarily residing in Poland. The action is made possible by the close collaboration between the Cittaslow, the cities united in a network with international headquarters in Umbria, in Orvieto.

"Networking and collaborating between different subjects - explains the Secretary General of Cittaslow, Pier Giorgio Oliveti - is the only way to make our solidarity effective and concrete with a people who have ended up in the horror of war for two months. The peculiarity of the Cittaslow project is to respond to real and specific needs, reported to us by our Polish Cittaslows, especially those closest to Ukraine, as Górowo Iławeckie. Aid will therefore be targeted, and the purchase of goods is made according to local needs. Jacek Kostka, Vice President of Cittaslow International as well as Coordinator of the Polish Network and Mayor of Cittaslow of Górowo Ilawecie, will welcome the aid column of the Civil Protection of Orvieto and distribute them ”.

It will be the third load of aid collected within the municipalities that are part of the Associated Civil Protection Function of the internal area. The first load was organized by the Civil Protection of the F.A. and sent by the Region of Umbria through the National Department of Civil Protection. The second shipment was sent to the City of Prudnik, Cittaslow headquarters by the White Cross of Umbertide. For these first two loads, collaboration between all the associations in the area was essential. Medicines, basic necessities, long-life food were collected. The Industrial Association of Orvieto, Rotary, Lions, Diocesan Caritas, and all the other Basic Associations that have materially provided for the collection of aid have given their active and financial contribution to this collection of solidarity. For its part, the Cittaslow Network has already sent two trucks from Veneto (Cittaslow di Asolo, Follina and Farra di Soligo) with basic necessities directed to the Cittaslow of Lidzbark, in Poland.

On Wednesday 11 May, a column consisting of a 13-meter truck and 3 other vehicles for Poland organized by the Cittaslow Network will leave, which will be welcomed on the 12th evening in Olstyn, Warmia Mazuria Region, Supporting Member of Cittaslow International,

Orvieto is the international headquarters of the Cittaslow Network and for this reason it has promoted and coordinated the collection of funds from the cities that are part of the Network.

The Cittaslow Network made use of the Civil Protection for the organizational and technical experience expressed also in previous trips already organized. Materials, medicines for hospitals and generics, basic necessities required by local operators will leave for Gòrowo Ilaweckie and Olsztyn. 20 washing machines, 100 power banks, 40 bunk beds, 4 pallets of medicines, 1000 health suits, 1000 isothermal blankets, 4 pallets of food for a total of 10 quintals, hygiene materials, baby diapers, and everything what can be used in the conditions of first aid and first reception. The Cittaslow Network made use of the Civil Protection for the organizational and technical experience expressed also in previous trips already organized. Materials, medicines for hospitals and generics, basic necessities required by local operators will leave for Gòrowo Ilaweckie and Olsztyn. 20 washing machines, 100 power banks, 40 bunk beds, 4 pallets of medicines, 1000 health suits, 1000 isothermal blankets, 4 pallets of food for a total of 10 quintals, hygiene materials, baby diapers, and everything what can be used in the conditions of first aid and first reception.

Thanks to the funds raised by the Cittaslow Network, in particular from the Municipality of Tirano, it was possible to purchase materials and foodstuffs, while the Civil Protection of Orvieto provided the necessary medicines and organized the transport. The transport will be carried out by the La Rosa dell’Umbria civil protection association, coordinated and delivered in Poland by Gian Paolo Pollini and Giuliano Santelli of the associated function. thanks to the Cassa di Risparmio Foundation which contributed to transport costs and to the Association. Speakers: Jacek Kostka, Sindaco di Górowo Iławeckie, Vicepresident of Cittaslow Int’l, Coordinator of the Polish Network

Franco Spada, Mayor of Tirano Cittaslow,
Roberta Tardani, Mayor of Orvieto Cittaslow
Pier Luigi Maravalle, Mayor of Ficulle Cittaslow
For Servizio della Funzione associata della Protezione Civile dell’Orvietano: Gian Paolo Pollini, Luca Gnagnarini, Giuliano Santelli
coordination: Secretary general of Cittaslow International, Pier Giorgio Oliveti
info: Luca Filippetti , Cittaslow Web Specialist - redazione@cittaslow.org