The 15 Red Cross houses in the province of Luxembourg just in time
1.social groceries
There are about twenty in the province, and they are taken by storm.“In Arlon and Habay, the number of beneficiaries has doubled, and the rest of the province is also experiencing a very sharp increase. Successive crises are pushing people to cut their food budget, and requests for aid via the CPAS are exploding. “
However, responding to this growing distress poses several difficulties. “Already, we have to double our opening hours to meet demand, which means doubling our logistics and doubling the volunteer teams, which is sometimes difficult. “Then, the public frequenting social groceries, made up of free products and half-price products, sometimes does not have the budget. “There is worryingly that people are struggling to even budget for half the price and stick to free food.”
2.Cloakrooms
Red Cross second-hand clothing shops are not only seeing a sharp increase in footfall, but also a shift in audiences. “With the energy crisis, we see more and more of the middle class franchising our doors, and not only people benefiting from the 2nd hand or the ecological aspect, even if there are some too. There are certainly an awareness at this level, but which does not justify the strong increase in attendance. Clothing is unfortunately one of the last budgets in which people can cut.” The profits made by the vestiboutiques are used to finance social groceries and other actions of the Red Cross, thanks to the sale of clothing at low prices. “Clothes are free for the most vulnerable, of course.”
3.Blood donations
Blood donation is also going through troubled times. “The reserves are currently very fragile in all blood groups, but mainly negative,” explains Thomas Paulus, communications manager for the Red Cross. The current reserves do not allow us to envisage the weekare to come serenely . The need is urgent, and jeopardizes the emergency management and transfusions that some people need.” For 3 months, we have seen a 15% drop in donations. A dramatic situation due to the Covid and aggravated by the current crisis. “80% of our donors are regular, and 20% are punctual and must be renewed each year. Our two target audiences are schools and businesses. During the 2 years of Covid, we did not have them, which led to great shortages that are not easily absorbed.” The current crisis drives the point home even further. “People have other concerns in difficult times; blood donation is understandably pushed to the back burner.”
4.medical transport
The province’s 45 non-emergency medical transport vehicles are desperately short of volunteers. “We are finding it difficult to find volunteers for transport to the places of care. The Covid has taken away a lot of volunteers and it is difficult to find any.” Do you want to give your time to a cause and have had your license for at least 3 years and offer half a day a week to elderly, isolated and/or sick people? The Luxembourg Red Cross needs you! “We train our drivers in first aid, reception and handling. If you are physically fit and sensitive to the call of these people, join us!”
www.maisons.croix-rouge.be