Coca-Cola helps local organizations cope with the consequences of the coronavirus crisis
EACH OF OUR BRANCHES HAS DONATED €5,000 TO AN ACTION OF THEIR CHOICE -- €40,000 IN ALL.
The coronavirus crisis has struck at all levels of society and all segments of the population. Coca-Cola has had a foothold in Belgium and Luxembourg for more than ninety years and is therefore deeply interwoven with that society and the Belgian and Luxembourgish population. We have already mentioned our support to large organizations such as the Red Cross and the National Food Banks in other articles. Nevertheless, we also thought it was important to support local initiatives that have also been greatly affected by COVID-19. It is often these actions in fact that make the difficult conditions more bearable for the local population.
In concrete terms, each of our branches in Ghent, Antwerp, Anderlecht, Hasselt, Londerzeel, Chaudfontaine, Heppignies and Luxembourg, could choose one local organization or action to support.
COCA-COLA IN GHENT SUPPORTS HUIZE TRIEST
The production site in Ghent decided to donate the €5,000 to the well-known Huize Triest. Named after the founder of the Brothers of Charity, this centre provides shelter to people who have serious difficulties. In their own words on the Huize Triest website:
"From a hot shower, to a sandwich, a cup of tea or coffee, to listening, silence or a deep conversation. You are always welcome at Huize Triest".
They focus mainly on people for whom the threshold to structured care is too high and who consequently fall by the wayside.
COCA-COLA IN ANTWERP SUPPORTS ‘CREATIVES TEGEN CORONA’ [CREATIVES AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS]
Our Antwerp site chose to support 'Creatives against Corona', or CtC for short. This organization has developed simple designs for mouth masks, protective suits and aprons in close cooperation with care providers and emergency services. You can download these designs and use them to create protective material for our front-line carers using a sewing machine. CtC will also pick up the creations and deliver them to the healthcare facilities. For those who don't want to start from scratch, CtC also makes and distributes ready-made packages for getting started in the Antwerp region.
In addition, CtC also coordinates the production of finished products through ready-to-wear clothing companies. Some 50,000 units of finished material have already been distributed to care providers in this way.
COCA-COLA IN ANDERLECHT SUPPORTS THE PUBLIC SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICE (PSWO) OF THAT MUNICIPALITY
From our headquarters in Anderlecht we decided to donate to the local PSWO of the OCMW. This will enable this office to buy smartphones and tablets that older patients can use to talk to their families despite the social isolation, so as to alleviate the psychological consequences of the coronavirus crisis for these people.
Another part of the budget goes to renting a hotel so that some forty homeless people can find safe accommodation temporarily.
COCA-COLA IN HASSELT SUPPORTS LEVENSLOOP GENK
Our site in Hasselt has opted to donate the community budget to 'Levensloop Genk'. This event for the benefit of the 'Stichting tegen Kanker’ [Foundation against Cancer] could not be held because of the coronavirus crisis.
At Levensloop, teams are sponsored to relieve each other in a relay race for 24 hours so as to raise funds for the fight against cancer.
Because of the coronavirus, the Foundation Against Cancer has had to make the difficult but well-considered decision to cancel all Levensloop events from 2020 and move them to 2021. The health of each and every one takes overriding priority. But... Postponement is not an adjustment! Levensloop remains an expression of hope AND victory. They hope to be there again in 2021. Our donation will help them.
COCA-COLA IN LONDERZEEL SUPPORTS THE SOCIAL GROCER ‘DE BUURTWINKEL’ [THE NEIGHBOURHOOD SHOP]
Our distribution centre in Londerzeel opted to support the social grocer 'De Buurtwinkel'. This is a local shop that has been opening every fourth Thursday of the month since 2016 to offer quality food and basic products for those who are struggling financially. The products are offered free of charge or at a greatly reduced price to some 50 families who come to the shop every month. For them, the neighbourhood shop - which is run by volunteers - also fulfils a social role by taking them out of their isolation and by showing understanding for their problems.
The donation of Coca-Cola will be used to buy refrigerators so that the vegetables coming from the auction can be stored properly and kept sufficiently fresh.
COCA-COLA IN CHAUDFONTAINE SUPPORTS THE SANS-LOGIS [HOMELESS] SHELTER
In Chaudfontaine we support the 'Sans-Logis' [Homeless] shelter. This not-for-profit organization stands ready to look after the homeless day and night. They do so by literally giving shelter but also by providing social support and guidance to these people in need. A relationship of trust is thereby built and these people regain a sense of social acceptance.
The support of Coca-Cola goes specifically to the department for women and children.
COCA-COLA IN HEPPIGNIES SUPPORTS THE LE FIGUIER [THE FIGTREE] SHELTER
Le Figuier [The Fig Tree], a shelter in Marcinelle, provides shelter for families (with and without children) in difficulty. This organization not only opens its doors, but also contributes actively to developing new prospects for these people. It is all about building projects and finding a new place to live. Coca-Cola supports this organization also with a donation.
COCA-COLA IN LUXEMBURG SUPPORTS LUXEMBOURG AIR RESCUE
Our site in Luxemburg opted to support Luxembourg Air Rescue. This organization transports coronavirus patients from hospitals in hard hit regions to hospitals in Luxembourg or neighbouring countries. As the name suggests, this transport is carried out by aeroplane or helicopter.