- Title: Polish volunteers deliver coffee, walk dogs as coronavirus spreads
- Date: 24th March 2020
- Summary: WROCLAW, POLAND (MARCH 18, 2020) (REUTERS) DESERTED MAIN SQUARE CLOCK ON CITY HALL RESTAURANT WITH SIGN READING (Polish/English): "TAKE AWAY ONLY" SIGN READING (English): "TAKE AWAY ONLY" STREET AMBULANCE STATION ACTIVIST PROVIDING SUPPLIES FOR PARAMEDICS AND DOCTORS, ROBERT WAGNER, DELIVERING SUPPLIES TO AMBULANCE STATION WORKERS (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) ACTIVIST PROVIDING SUPPLIES FOR PARAMEDICS AND DOCTORS, ROBERT WAGNER, SAYING: "We are trying to support medical professionals in Wroclaw, paramedics, emergency departments and infectious wards employees as much as we can. So we provide the so-called packed lunch, i.e. coffee, tea, sugar, milk, energy drinks, water so that they can work somehow, working a dozen or so hours a day, just to protect us against coronavirus in any way." CHEFS IN 'BISTRO 8 1/2' RESTAURANT PREPARING MEAL CHEF STIRRING POT CHEF CUTTING CARROTS CHEFS WORKING IN KITCHEN VEGETABLES IN POT VARIOUS OF OWNER OF 'BISTRO 8 1/2' RESTAURANT JOANNA CIESLIK USING TOUCH SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) OWNER OF 'BISTRO 8 1/2' RESTAURANT, JOANNA CIESLIK, SAYING: "The situation is not easy, but we try to find a positive side. We decided to help as much as we can. We organised crowdfunding, thanks to which we can deliver such meals to the most deprived persons free of charge. Today we are preparing a portion of a large soup for 75 people for men who are homeless, who are in quarantine. We will also prepare meals for senior couples who we have already been looking after and to whom we provide such lunches every day. We also have a request from a person for whom we will prepare special meals, because it is an ill person, who has cancer. So we will do our best to help them." VARIOUS OF FOUNDER OF POLISH 'VISIBLE HAND' GROUP, MARTA LISTWAN, SITTING IN PARK WITH COMPUTER (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) FOUNDER OF POLISH 'VISIBLE HAND' GROUP, MARTA LISTWAN, SAYING: "I created this group for my friends and friends of friends, hoping that as many as sixty people will appear. Over seventeen thousand appeared. All friends are there - from shopping, going out with dog, buying medicines at the pharmacy, psychological help, lunches for doctors and people in need, childcare - all help." (NIGHT SHOT) WROCLAW RESIDENT WALKING DOGS FOR FRIENDS, MARTA SZCZEK, TAKING DOGS FOR WALK (NIGHT SHOT) SZCZEK PETTING BLASZKA, WHO HAS HIND LEGS IN SMALL CART (NIGHT SHOT) BLASZKA LOOKING AROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) WROCLAW RESIDENT WALKING DOGS FOR FRIENDS, MARTA SZCZEK, SAYING: "Once I also needed help and people helped me, that's why I try to help who needs it. Julka wrote a request on behalf of Blaszka for help in walking the dog, so I volunteered. I live close and try to walk the dog in the evenings, provide shopping if needed. Julka cannot leave the house, so I try to help as much as I can, and since I also have a job at home now, so I am on the spot and I can drive up at any moment - whether with medicine or with shopping, or just go out with Blaszka for a walk." (NIGHT SHOT) SZCZEK WITH DOGS (NIGHT SHOT) BLASZKA BARKING
- Embargoed: 7th April 2020 14:44
- Keywords: Poland community spirit coronavirus outbreak people helping one another
- Location: WROCLAW, POLAND
- City: WROCLAW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C6ETKRD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: For Robert Wagner, delivering supplies like coffee, energy drinks, water and packed lunches to paramedics and doctors in Wroclaw is the least he can do to lend a helping hand amidst the spread of the coronavirus in Poland.
As the coronavirus spreads across the country, many individuals are grappling with widespread restrictions while doctors and nurses are working overtime in an effort to treat the growing number of cases.
Many of the elderly and those with reduced immunity are confined to their homes in order to curtail the risk of infection, effectively cutting them off from society.
Joanna Cieslik, the owner of Restaurant Bisto 8 1/2 in Wroclaw, has decided to change her service into providing free sustenance to those most in need, including senior couples, sick people and the homeless.
Community groups have mobilized, looking for ways to support each other, delivering food and medicine, cooking meals and offering to walk each others dogs.
Marta Listwan created a group on Facebook called "Visible Hand" where people can offer to provide services, from getting medicines at the pharmacy, walking the dog.
"I created this group for my friends and friends of friends, hoping that as many as sixty people will appear," she said. Over seventeen thousand appeared."
The government has imposed a number limits on daily life, including closures of theatres, schools and cinemas and a ban on gatherings of more than 50 people. In Poland, 439 cases have been confirmed and five people have died.
(Production: Piotr Hawalej, Natalia Dobryszycka, Malgorzata Wojtunik / Sarah Mills / Mike Davidson) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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