Hungary has the greatest heart
The Hungarian Maltese Charity Service celebrating its 20th anniversary launched its annual campaign series with this motto. The first call of the program “So that people don’t cool down” aims at helping our most needy fellow humans, who suffer from the coldness of the winter. The series of programs will continue throughout the upcoming year with several additional elements, with the active involvement of large groups of the society.
– The multiple and high degree of support we encounter day by day convinces us of the solidarity and openness of Hungarian society towards problems of others – said Imre Kozma, president of the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service. The motto, that Hungary has the greatest heart is corroborated by historical events – he said, then recalled the events of the past 20 years.
Through the reception of East German refugees (August, 1989), through the large-scale aid and rescue actions during the revolution in Romania (December, 1989) and the war in Yugoslavia (1991), the Charity Service became partners with governmental bodies and civil organizations, and this constantly characterizes the activities of Maltese workers even since then – as it was mentioned on the press briefing.
The press briefing, held in the centre of the Charity Service, took place in a room with a gigantic red heart decorating its wall. The heart was made up of hundreds of tiny hearts sewed by volunteers (old people and children) from Debrecen using patchwork technique. But even hundred times larger ones are going to be made, the actual place and technique of making it will be part of a later action.
The willingness to donate still works intensively today, if the person asking for a donation is trustworthy, and if the donors can make sure, that their donations are spent for the proper goals, and also actually reach their target - it was stated. It works this way in spite of the fact, that in the recent few years in certain cases we could think, it’s all about money, and not about the person. Economic crisis on the other hand cannot indicate the fact, that paying attention to one another or the social welfare system should suffer losses accordingly – said father Imre Kozma.
The Charity Service is thankfully welcoming the partnership of all benevolent individuals, organizations and companies in the upcoming festive year. It is now asking for the support of everyone to help saving the lives of our fellow-beings, who due to their difficult financial situation are freezing on the streets or in their unheated homes, and often risking freezing to death in the upcoming winter. All this has a special connection with the 11th November, the celebration of bishop Saint Martin of Tours. Saint Martin from his younger years on has turned to the poor in an exemplary way. One cold winter day, when he was already a soldier, in order to save a beggar from freezing to death, he slashed his unique cloak in two with his sword, and wrapped him with the other half.
All donations – blankets, warm clothing and every other means and resources, that could help the Maltese Charity Service in reaching its aim, are thankfully welcomed at the 350 Hungarian Maltese Sites.
