THE LABEL on the cardboard box reads “For Greece”.
It contains evaporated milk and is just one of hundreds of boxes collected in Nicosia, filled with food destined for the needy in crisis-stricken Greece.
Nearby is an ever-growing pile of plastic bags containing clothing that Cypriots, responding to a call for donations, have dropped off at the courtyard of the church of Ayios Georghios in the suburb of Latsia.
Yet more food and clothing fills a hall.
Cereal, rice, juice, milk, pasta, sugar, flour, canned food, shoes, suits, coats and toys, stacked under the seemingly watchful eye of the Virgin Mary, whose large icon adorns the wall.
Outside, volunteers are busy sorting and packing the food as people of all ages keep coming and coming, bearing more bags and boxes.
Soldiers and scouts also provide a helping hand.
“We are Greek. They helped us, we must also help,” said Margarita Constantinou.
It was her second drop of the day.
An elderly man who had just dropped off a couple of boxes of food lamented Greece’s plight: “What have Greeks come to? What have they come to?”
Greece has entered its fifth year in recession and the effects of the crisis are expected to deepen.
Greek lawmakers backed drastic cuts in wages, pensions and jobs on Sunday as the price of a €130 billion bailout by the European Union and International Monetary Fund to avert a messy default that would send shockwaves through the eurozone.
The one-day collection initially aimed to fill two containers with aid but the response was so overwhelming that they were both full by early afternoon.
And people kept coming.
“Whatever we can to help,” a man said as he left a bag full of clothes on the heap.
A woman wiped her tears as she walked away with her husband. She was not the only one yesterday.
“What is happening is moving. I didn’t expect such a response,” said Latsia deputy mayor Christos Pittaras.
The collection was the initiative of state broadcaster CyBC – in cooperation with the Church of Cyprus — to mark World Radio Day.
“There is no way Cypriots would say no when they are asked to help,” said Yianna Lefkati, actor and CyBC employee. “We have seen it before and we have seen it today. Hang on brothers,” she said of the Greeks.
Coordinator Athina Violari said that the effort will continue.
Similar collections were held in other towns of Cyprus.
Father Andreas said the food was destined for Thessaloniki, Volos, Larisa and Veria to help authorities in those areas provide 4,000 meals a day.
In addition, the Church has already sent tonnes of meat – chicken, beef and mince — to Athens.
It will also be sending lamb in April for Easter.
By the end of the day, six containers, including donations from Larnaca, were on their way to Greece.
The organisers have ordered four more containers today that will also include donations from Limassol and Paphos. It is understood however that more will be needed to ship all the aid that was collected.
People interested in donating food and clothing can do so at the Ayios Georghios church until Friday.
Cyprus Mail