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Ilona from Panevėžys could not hide her indignation after she found her dress in an online shop that was sent to the SOS Children’s institution for charity. The news that the donated item was sold also surprised the institution’s director.
It is prohibited to sell items brought to the “SOS Children” institution located at Rožiai Street in Panevěž, as previously stated in a notice hung at its distribution site.
After it was established that the people themselves were well aware that selling charity was, to say the least, dishonourable, the inscription ceased to exist.
However, items donated by good people sometimes end up on virtual counters on the Internet.
Seeing dishonest business
When Ilona, from Panevėžys, started telling her that she had seen her mother’s clothes being donated to charity and sold on the internet, she couldn’t believe it.
“The dress was a bit old and I hadn’t worn it recently. Since I wasn’t wearing the clothes, my daughter convinced me to donate them to charity. She also gave the dress as a gift along with other clothes we chose to give away,” said Ilona.
When the daughter saw the small Baltic logo embroidered on the pocket, she realized that it was indeed her mother’s dress.
Both mother and daughter are followers of this faith.
“Charity is a gift. And we don’t sell gifts. At least that’s what I was taught since I was a child,” Ilona emphasizes.
The woman from Panevěž does not hide the fact that after recounting such incidents, she also heard different opinions. Some female colleagues defended the vendors as a charity, saying that those who cannot make ends meet are trying to raise money in this way to meet their most basic needs.
“They tried to prove to me that people who take my clothes and sell them on the Internet will definitely wash and iron them, then take photos and upload them to the website. The dress will be sent to the buyer, and the seller will also pay taxes from the proceeds. So, it seems that my charity will serve specific individuals and countries,” said Ilona.
However, such a statement did not convince her.
“I don’t want my charity to be traded,” said the woman from Panevėžys.
Charitable Shares – Over 30 Years
Irma Zabulionytė, the head of the “SOS Children” agency on Rožiai Street, stressed that she had not heard of the charity they distribute being sold and asked anyone who knows about such cases to contact her.
She claims that she does not support charity trade. According to I. Zabulionytė, even hearing it makes one uncomfortable.
“On the other hand, maybe a person starts selling clothes, shoes or other things that he brings home for charity, so that he has money to buy food for his children”, – I. Zabulionytė is looking for excuses for those who sell charity items.
For more than 30 years, the “SOS Children” organization has been distributing charity to everyone in need.
Marytė Zabulionienė, a doctor with an excellent memory, took this step.
Members of various Western European relief organizations took the lead in providing charitable assistance to Lithuania. Canned food, other long-term food, clothes and shoes were shipped from abroad.
In the Soviet system, where there was nothing, one third of the boys wore the same T-shirts and the girls wore the same clothes, and foreign gifts seemed unusually beautiful to the liberated compatriots. Foreign clothes were of very high quality and therefore valuable.
“There were many children and families with disabled children who were invited to take part in this charity,” I. Zabulionytė recalled.
At that time, charity was distributed in the Topolių aleja building, which at that time housed the offices of the municipality’s education department.
Irma Zabulionytė’s goal is to get charity to those who really need it, rather than to online sellers. Photo by P. Zidonis.
Two charity warehouses
When the staff of the education department began to console themselves that the disturbance caused by the people coming for alms was hindering their work, collecting and distributing the donations, the municipality’s site on Projektuotojų Street was allocated.
“Seeing that people needed not only clothes, but not all of them needed food, my mother made sure a day center for children was set up, where they could be cared for and fed,” said I. Zabulionytė.
Eventually, the “SOS Children” agency moved to another empty building of a former primary school on Rožių Street, which later became a center for extracurricular activities.
The head of the organization remembers that initially, donations were collected by setting up a simple tent in the yard, which was used by market traders.
Under the roof of this tent, people left donated items and those in need came here to pick them up.
“But one winter, heavy snow destroyed our tents,” I. Zabulionytė recalled.
Then they began looking for someone who could build a solid building in the yard to distribute the charity there. They appealed to people of goodwill. Whoever contributed materials, money, or labor, SOS Children now has two large charity warehouses. There are clothes hanging neatly, shoes lined up, bedding, toys, baby carriages, a piece of furniture, tableware, and even donated books.
All donations are in good condition and clean condition. They are accepted continuously during business hours.
People in Panevěž are used to placing the items they bring on a table in the courtyard of the institution.
Photo by P. Zidonis.
Providing assistance to hundreds of families
When the reporter of “Sekundė” visited the institution, it received two donors within an hour.
One lady also brought several bags of clothes and new sandals from a well-known brand.
A young man walked under her car into the agency’s yard and began removing charity bags from the trunk. He said all the clothes belonged to family members.
According to I. Zabulionytė, those who brought charitable goods were not registered, and the goods they brought were not listed.
Donated items are distributed by volunteers.
Those who come to collect charity items are registered and what they take away is recorded.
The head of SOS Children said that according to her statistics, more than 200 families benefited from the charity last year.
“Some people often take our donated clothes. It seems that this family does not need so much alms. From now on, we will try to more carefully evaluate those who receive charity, because we want it to go to those who really need it”, emphasizes I. Zabulionytė.
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