São Paulo – Sírio do Bem, the philanthropy department at São Paulo, Brazil’s Esporte Clube Sírio, is donating cloth coverings to children undergoing chemotherapy. Each kid and mother or accompanying adult get matched-color coverings. A project supporter, the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce is earmarking some of the cash from a crowdfunding campaign spanning Brazil and the Arab countries.
Sírio do Bem plans on delivering 2,500 coverings each week to its partner hospitals: Associação para Crianças e Adolescentes com Câncer (Tucca), Grupo de Apoio ao Adolescente e à Criança com Câncer (Graacc), Instituto de Tratamento do Câncer Infantil (Itaci), AC Camargo, and Santa Casa de Misericórdia.
The charity comprises 50 of Esporte Clube Sírio members who’ve been getting together for two years now to help children undergoing cancer treatment. Before the pandemic they used to make playful wool wigs, braids and crowns for the kids to play with, and tricot and crochet gowns. “These kids need coverings right now. More than any of us, they need to cover because they’re highly susceptible,” said Sírio do Bem director Cassia Halti (pictured above).
Last week, 2,500 coverings collected from club members, acquaintances and friends have been donated to Tucca. Another 500 coverings have been donated to NGO Laço Rosa, which assists breast cancer patients. So far, 3,000 reusable, Health Ministry-approved cotton-cloth coverings have been purchased.
“We got matching prints for moms and their kids because they’re already bald from the chemo, some of them are intubated, so they will often resist wearing,” explained Cassia. The masks are colorful, with flower and animal prints.
“We intend to give to other institutions as more donations come in. We want to give away 2,500 coverings per week, including ones we purchased and ones we made. We make them slowly, by hand, but we’re a tight-knit group,” said Cassia.
“At such a hard time as this, we need a little solidarity. This is the second campaign that the Chamber is working on. Social action is very important, and more so at a time when the country needs it so badly,” Chamber director Claudia Haddad said regarding the donations.
The Arab Chamber’s crowdfunding campaign will also funnel resources into other projects and hospitals that need help getting through the pandemic. The organization is requesting donations from members, Arab and Brazilian companies, religious institutions, meat packers, certifying companies, and regular people. Donations of any amount are being accepted via the Vaquinha online platform.
Click here to donate.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
