In conversation with Diario NCO, the NGO explained how the initiative came about and what the work they do is like.
By Tomás Modini
@ModiniTomas
In times of economic difficulties, those places that lend a hand with a solely charitable purpose are saviors for those who have less and those who are in a vulnerable situation. This is the case of Deshoras Sur, a civil association that provides help in the area of Lomas de Zamora and its surroundings.
In conversation with Diario NCO, they explained how the initiative came about: “The idea as such arose in August 2020 in the midst of a pandemic situation, Julia Kwasnycia (founder) had the initiative to collect donations at her home in order to distribute them, given that many people were in a vulnerable situation and under even more confinement.”
“In the midst of his diffusion, trying to get things, his friend Lucas Caraffa (founder) joined and through online chats, what Deshoras Sur is today began to take shape. Thanks to the networks, solidarity spread, reaching different young people in the area and thus gaining strength. The group is characterized by being nonpartisan and not having ties to the church,” they added.
The activities they carry out
Regarding the work they carry out, they mentioned that “our main activity is the preparation and distribution of food to people who are in a vulnerable situation that we find on our route that goes from Plaza Grigera to the Gandulfo Hospital” and “also with a second group that goes through the central part of Lomas, the banking area and the pedestrian area.”
“Currently, approximately 100 food packages are delivered each week, with drinks, this can be water or juice, or something hot in the winter,” they detailed.
They also emphasized donations: “We have a fixed point where a solidarity wardrobe operates, so that families can come and have clothes that are useful for themselves or their children. On weekends we carry out different recreational activities with the different soup kitchens in the area.”
The organization from an economic point of view
On the other hand, the NGO explained how they support themselves: “Most of the income we have is through sporadic donations and for some time we have had solidarity subscription plans. People can subscribe to one of the plans and they help us every month with a fixed amount (by automatic debit) and they can also make a one-time donation of the amount they want.”
“We do not have help from the municipality or the national state, nor from the church. All our income comes from people who trust in our community work, some
businesses in the area that find us on the Thursday tour also tend to join in when we plan special dates,” they assured.
They also highlighted that “we are currently holding a charity event, where different artists will be playing and singing at Cultura del Sur, we also have different sponsors, we raffle off prizes that were donated by the sponsors” and that “with the sale of tickets they collaborate so that we can continue working every week.”
“And we are on the move to be able to provide support to a school in the interior with the aim of improving its infrastructure and bringing donations of school supplies,” they mentioned.
“Providing a respite to their day”
To close, when asked how they see the people they help, they responded: “We cannot give a concrete answer, the reality that we perceive is that as the years go by we manage to see people who can progress and get a place to live or a job, but we also see new people every Thursday who come to ask us for a tray of food. We know that our volunteering is not a solution for the situation they are in, but we try to provide a respite to their day.”
“It is not just about delivering a tray of food but also about listening to them, each one has a different story, knowing their name when giving them a tray, asking them how they are, listening to them and if they need guidance to be able to do some paperwork are the types of tasks we face,” they concluded.
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