Some dreams are meant to come true

In Poland, over 330 thousand children[1] live in extreme poverty[2]. The situation they are in means that often their basic needs are not met, or cannot be met. New clothes, sports shoes, crayons, toys, or a desk to do homework remain in the realm of unattainable dreams. By organizing the collection under the slogan 'Some dreams are achievable,' the Polish Red Cross wants to draw attention to the needs of children at risk of exclusion and also show that some dreams are easy to fulfill if we work together.

“Childhood is a crucial period in a person's life. It is during this time that our attitudes are shaped, we learn certain behaviors and reactions to various situations. The shortages we experience in childhood can have particularly serious consequences for further development and a successful start in adult life. The most obvious and immediate consequence of poverty is health risks resulting from malnutrition, poor living conditions, and insufficient hygiene, as well as a lack of appropriate clothing. Now, these children often skip school because they are ashamed of their situation, feel inferior to their peers, but in a few or several years, they will be adults who may not receive a chance for a decent life or good work. At PCK, we strive throughout the year to improve the situation of children and youth at risk of exclusion. We invite everyone to join our action.” – says Michał Mikołajczyk, a member of the Management Board of the Polish Red Cross.

PCK daily supports families in need by providing assistance in the form of food and hygiene packages and funding children’s needs. Only in 2022, assistance from PCK in various forms was received by over 130 thousand children. On April 28, the campaign 'Some dreams are achievable' was launched, which aims to gather funds to meet the basic needs of children living in poverty.

The Polish Red Cross has branches all over the country, which makes it possible to provide direct assistance to those who need it most. By working among local communities, it knows the people it supports and enjoys their trust. It is also important that the organization does not provide cash that could be used in various ways, but instead provides in-kind support: school supplies, clothes, hygiene products, or finally food or subsidies for school lunches for children. Thanks to the collection and the joint efforts of all donors, it will be possible, for example, to buy crayons for Kasia, who draws beautifully, but whose mother cannot afford to buy them, or a tracksuit and sneakers for Bartek, who has athletic abilities but whose current outfit is already old and has visible wear. Although we may not realize it, these children may live in our neighborhood. By joining the collection, everyone can fulfill a small dream and bring a smile to the face of a needy child.

The Polish Red Cross collection under the slogan 'Some dreams are achievable' is being conducted online on the Zrzutka.pl portal since April 28, and on May 6-8, PCK volunteers will be collecting donations in buckets. All funds will be used to meet the needs of children and youth cared for by PCK.

More on the campaign website 'Some dreams are achievable'

[1] https://www.eapn.org.pl/aktualnosci/poverty-watch-2022-w-2021-r-ok-16-mln-polakow-zylo-w-skrajnym-ubostwie-w-tym-333-tys-dzieci-i-246-tys-seniorow/

[2] Extreme poverty means that consumption below this level threatens human life and health. This value is determined by GUS based on the minimum existence estimated by the Institute of Labor and Social Affairs. In 2021, the poverty line for a one-person household was 692 zlotys, and for a household of 2+2, it was 1868.4 zlotys.