L-R: Cédric Delahaye, Elvinger Hoss Prussen; Marc Elvinger, Friendship Luxembourg; Luc Scheer, Luxembourg Red Cross; Esméralda Chupin, Friendship; Magali Maillot, Allen & Overy; Isabelle Treillard, manager of Mersch social grocery store;
Credit: Croix-Rouge luxembourgeoise
The Luxembourg Red Cross has received a donation of 6,000 masks for beneficiaries of its social grocery stores.
On Friday 2 October 2020, Friendship Luxembourg handed over 5,000 masks made in Bangladesh in favour of beneficiaries of the Red Cross' social grocery stores. The firms Elvinger Hoss Prussen and Allen & Overy donated an additional 1,000 masks.The handover ceremony took place at the social grocery store in Mersch, in the presence of Marc Elvinger, President of Friendship Luxembourg, and Lux Scheer, member of the management committee of the Luxembourg Red Cross.
The organisation Friendship, mainly active in Bangladesh, made the commitment to offer free masks to beneficiaries of Luxembourg Red Cross social grocery stores through the sale of masks in its pop-up store, located in Grand-Rue in Luxembourg City. The shop has been open since 22 January and will close on 3 October 2020. Each mask purchased for €4 made it possible to donate a mask to a vulnerable person in Luxembourg and Bangladesh.
The success of this operation allowed Friendship to donate 5,000 masks last week. These masks will be distributed to the beneficiaries of the eight social grocery stores of the Luxembourg Red Cross.
Marc Elvinger explained: “For once, we are faced with a health disaster situation that is common in Luxembourg and Bangladesh - and across the whole world. Even if everyone is not impacted in the same way, it seemed natural to us, under these circumstances, to conduct our action in such a way that it benefits both vulnerable people in Bangladesh and Luxembourg. Our collaborative relationship with the Red Cross enables us to do so in an exemplary manner”.
Luc Scheer added: “The wearing of a mask is still relevant in Luxembourg. Thanks to the Friendship initiative, it is made possible for vulnerable people whose family budgets are under strain. We thank this gesture of solidarity which is essential in the current health context".
Isabelle Treillard, manager of the social grocery store in Mersch, testified: "The beneficiaries of our social grocery store are very grateful to receive these masks for free; they will be of great use to them on a daily basis to protect themselves and their loved ones".
