One of our most important tools here at Chance 4 Children (C4C) is the telephone. Whenever it rings, and it does so quite often, it could be the beginning of something big and important. This time it didn’t sound too earth shaking, however. The caller innocently asked if Chance 4 Children had the capacity to distribute some quality sweets and chocolates to orphanages and children’s homes. “Sure, sure, no problem” – our team is trained to have a “can do”, positive and accommodating attitude toward potential donors and contributors. So here’s someone who wants to donate a few cartons of sweets for a good cause. The kids we take care of usually don’t exactly have an over abundance of sweets and yummy little treats, like “normal” children. Most actually have almost none of these things – so, yes, chocolates and sweets are welcome!
We inquired about expiration dates and all checked out well. Still months left before the goods expired. How much exactly is it? Who’s on the line please? When the caller identified himself, however, we got for the first time the feeling that this may yet turn out to be something unexpected and surprising. It was the director of “PLUS” discount markets for the Czech Republic in person. How much was he talking about? The answer resonated and boomed in: 130 pallets full of chocolates and high quality sweets! That’s almost a football field full! To be exact, that’s five container trucks full of sweets!
“We received similar quantities of goods before”, remembers Vasek Cermak, C4C’s project manager, “so in a way, we are prepared and have the distribution channels in place to get the treats to the kids efficiently and fast!” He recalls vast amounts of instant soups and ice creams, donated by multiple truckloads, which also posed logistical challenges in the past. But challenges are there to be overcome and the team has learned quickly to respond to them.
And so it should come as no surprise that just days later all the goods had been appropriated, mostly in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but some as far as to needy orphanages in Bulgaria. And even though we here at C4C do not consider chocolates real “essentials”, as most other goods we distribute as part of the ROBIN HOOD program – it was, however, a chance to make literally thousands of kids happy and help them partake of something they can’t take for granted in daily life. It’s generally reserved for other kids more fortunate than them.
Thank you “PLUS” for thinking about the children C4C cares for!
