The fundraiser for Ukrainian refugees organized by the Leonardo shopping center with Sant’Egidio
The Leonardo shopping center is mobilizing in support of the Ukrainian people. The centre, in fact, which has always been attentive to the issues of those most in need, in collaboration with the community of Sant’Egidio, has decided to promote an important solidarity initiative. Thanks to the operators of the association (who will be present next April 2nd and 3rd, at the info point inside the gallery), he has created a fundraiser whose proceeds, through a special ‘solidarity relay’, will go to support the Communities of Sant’Egidio that operate in Ukraine, and help refugees at the borders of the country.
In fact, since February 24, the news arriving from the devastated territories of Kiev, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Mariupol has become more dramatic day after day. And this is why looking beyond one’s own boundaries with solidarity actions and initiatives becomes truly necessary.
“Although we are used to solidarity initiatives of this type, today more than ever, we are happy to be able to give our contribution and concrete support, together with the Community of Sant’Egidio, to the Ukrainian people. After the Covid-19 pandemic, unfortunately still ongoing, this conflict takes us back to sad memories that we hoped we had all treasured. However, thanks to this fundraiser which will take place over the course of next Saturday and Sunday, not only we but also our loyal customers will be able to take part in a initiative which, quickly and directly, will ensure that aid is immediately sent to Ukraine to the associations that actively operate in the area providing basic necessities and medicines. Furthermore, at the time of donation, the operators will donate a plant, offered by us, to all those who will participate in this important symbolic gesture”, declares the director of the Leonardo Shopping Center in Fiumicino, Gianpiero Campoli.
All the Communities of Sant’Egidio that are in Ukraine – in Kiev, Lviv, Ivano Frankivsk and other locations – courageously continue to take care of the most vulnerable and help the victims of war, as declared by the head of the Community of Sant’Egidio in Fiumicino, Francesca Scambia «The synergy between the Communities of Sant’Egidio in Ukraine, those in neighboring countries and us in Italy, allows us to help promptly and effectively. The initiative that we will carry out together with the Leonardo Shopping Center allows us to intensify aid and makes it possible for those who go to the Center at the weekend to contribute to that solidarity effort that we feel we must make with generosity in the face of such a dramatic situation . A special thank you to the Leonardo Center and to all those who will help us in this important initiative. And, as he himself said, Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio while visiting the borders with Ukraine, where he met the refugees, and the Communities of Slovakia and Poland who in these days are there to welcome, console and help: “Solidarity is our best way of responding to war”, concludes the head of the Community of Sant’Egidio in Fiumicino.
