NOVUS together with Food for Ukraine help Ukrainians during the war/NOVUS
From the first days of the war, the Lithuanian supermarket chain NOVUS launched an active charitable activity, starting distributing essential goods near stores. At that time, thousands of Kyiv residents could get food in several districts of the capital.
This was the first step to support the population, then the volume of assistance expanded beyond the shops. It was decided to concentrate efforts on the people who remained at the epicenter of events in Ukraine.
The end of February was a time for urgent decisions and action. We saw confusion and anxiety among people, and the first step was to consolidate our efforts to help the Ukrainians. – shared the beneficiary of NOVUS Raimondas Tumenas.
According to him, the most important missions of the NOVUS network over the past two months have been to reassure Ukrainians with the availability of necessary goods in stores, as well as to support the most vulnerable part of the population with products, which does not have the opportunity to worry about yourself.
“The charitable foundation Food for Ukraine was founded in Lithuania, with which we buy products side by side and find like-minded philanthropists among Lithuanian and European businesses in order to provide as much help as possible to the population of Ukraine, where NOVUS has been working for more than 12 years, and I personally – already more than 25”, said Raimondas Tumenas.
During the war, the company was able to take a big step forward the people of Ukraine. 175,000 food parcelswere handed over to families, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, evacuees, people who came from cities with active hostilities, everyone who is in an extremely difficult situation. One such set, in turn, is an opportunity to live and eat for a single person for a week. Products are delivered to the districts of the capital, territorial centers of social services, as well as to the most remote corners of the Kyiv region, where people survived the occupation.
We saw the pain in the eyes of people who lost something important during the war… Or someone… and saw the joy on their faces when they realized that they had not been abandoned and forgotten. We strive to make their life easier so that people understand that they are remembered and taken care of, – noted on the network.
Careful Europeans, sincerely sympathetic people, join Ukraine's support – they transfer funds that allow them to buy even more products for humanitarian kits. Europe's supermarket chains, food producers, both Ukrainian and European, are joining. Everyone who cannot stand aside.
For two months now, trucks have been transporting dozens of tons of products every week so that Ukraine is provided with food. Currently, there are already more than 800 tons of goods that the country has received from the network, the foundation, philanthropist companies and, of course, patrons.
“Now the amount of assistance provided has exceeded 1,000,000 euros. It is certainly worth all the daily efforts. After all, Ukraine is our second home. A country that we are proud of, share its sorrows and believe in its prosperous cloudless future. Without any doubt, we will continue on that path who have chosen to be close to Ukrainians in good times and bad. Right now is the period when we must show humanity, unity and make every effort to help Ukrainians endure difficult trials. We believe in the future and support”, – said the beneficiary of the NOVUS network .
Head of the Food for Ukraine Foundation, Nerijus Udrenas, said that the main goal of the initiative is to at least slightly deprive people of their fears, to give hope that tomorrow they will have food at home.
“It is now that we must show all humanity and support in order to be close to Ukraine in difficult times. NOVUS and the Food for Ukraine Foundation unite business and people to help Ukraine survive with common efforts. Ukraine is a big country, Lithuania is a small one, but we have big hearts and we wholeheartedly do everything in our power for the Ukrainians,” said Nerijus Udrenas.
He noted that photo reports with happy people who received help inspire to do good even more, move on and not stop.
“We are grateful to the partners who joined the humanitarian aid, as well as to the people who help deliver these products to the needy and lonely people at home – the Red Cross Society of Ukraine, the executive bodies of the Kyiv City Council for fruitful cooperation”, – said the head of the Food for Ukraine fund.
