Community

Red Cross and Red Crescent in Rethymnon

It may surprise some of you (partly because of the noise we all manage to make) but Rethymnon is, in fact, really rather a small place.  With that in mind, most people would be astonished to learn that just through a couple of coffee and cake mornings and one really stupendous wine and cheese tasting evening (hint, hint), €1100 was raised for the Rethymnon branch of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 2006. 

Well, it would be astonishing if one hadn’t already met Eveleen and Bob Wright, our hosts for these events. 

Eveleen and Bob have managed to galvanize even the most sluggish to sit up and take note.  Financial contributions are of course important, but raising awareness has also been key.  As you will see below, our local branch of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is perhaps quite special in the way it manages to apply global and general principles to local and specific needs.

Eveleen and Bob plan to hold further fund-raising events in 2007.  If you wish to contact them for further information their phone number is 28310 71221

The Key Principles

Humanity

Impartiality

Neutrality

Independence

Voluntary Service

Unity

Universality

How you can help

Our branch of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is truly local— working to try and benefit neighbours who have somehow ‘slipped through the net’.  The Rethymnon Coffee Morning Bugle crew can help by donating clean, serviceable clothes.

Some people may have reservations about giving clothes to charity — in the UK, this has not always been handled well.  However, as Eveleen and Bob will testify, staff at the Red Cross in Rethymnon make every effort to ensure that recipients are able to maintain their dignity, regardless of personal circumstances.

Clothes are diligently sorted, arranged by size and style.  Each person who requests an item of clothing is carefully, but sensitively, measured for fit.  Staff take genuine pride in finding items of clothing that will suit individual tastes.

It is almost certainly stating the obvious and may come across as incredibly trite / patronising to say “By taking such pride one gives back pride to those who may need it most”.  But pride, and/or self worth, is of course incredibly important in terms of personal survival.  There are at least some of us privileged few who know how uncomfortable it can be to show up to an important job interview in uncomfortable clothing. 

OK, OK I’ve got off my soapbox and you really don’t want to hear the story about my tights falling down. 

The address of our local branch is: IG Melhissedek 6, phone 28310 35083.  Opening hours are 10-12, Monday to Friday. 

If you want to help at a global level, it is worth checking out the website addresses that are given on this page.

Thanks to you all.

Contacts

Local Branch: 28310 35083

Eveleen and Bob: 28310 71221

www.ifrc.org

www.icrc.org

www.redcross.org.uk

(sorry, try as I might, couldn’t get a Greek website address)

CIC Coffee Mornings

The Rethymnon branch of the Cretan International Community meets on the first Thursday of every month at SVEA Swedish Coffee Shop, from 11 a.m.  Regardless of membership status, everyone is welcome to attend.  Coffee mornings are a good opportunity to meet friendly people living in your area, and to find out about local events. 

Coffee mornings are also a lot of fun—and you don’t even have to drink coffee!

The local coordinator for the Rethymnon branch of the CIC is Anna Capernaros.  Please contact her for directions to SVEA, details of upcoming CIC events and for any membership queries that you may have.

Anna may be reached on 28310 57305

Further information about the CIC organization itself may be found on their website: www.thecic.eu

CIC newsletters are free to members.  Non-members may purchase them from News Stand, 31 Plateia Agnostou Stratioti (Square of the Unknown Soldier) Rethymnon