Charity campaign organised in Lithuania for seventh year running

Colourful events were held in the heart of 26 Lithuanian cities throughout December. For the seventh year in a row, the charity campaign Maltiecių Sriuba 2012 (Order of Malta Soup) was run by the Order of Malta Volunteers in Lithuania (Maltos Ordino Pagalbos Tarnyba). The events attracted thousands of Lithuanians, among them celebrities and politicians. The goal? To draw public attention to the weakest link in Lithuanian society – the old, the lonely and the sick – and to provide immediate assistance to them.

During the ‘Maltieciu Sriuba 2012’ campaign the Order’s volunteers were able to involve some of the highest-ranking Lithuanian politicians. The President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite, the former President, Valdas Adamkus, city mayors, famous singers, actors and newscasters, all participated in the events of the campaign. Tasty hot soups were distributed to citizens.

Lithuanian National Television (LRT) broadcast many reports on the old and the sick to draw public attention to their situation and the need to help them. The Order of Malta’s projects throughout Lithuania, as well as its volunteers and beneficiaries, received much attention from the national media.

The month-long campaign concluded with the spectacular concert on 25 December. The concert gathered together the most famous Lithuanian singers and artists. As part of their outstanding performance, they appealed to Lithuanian society not to remain indifferent to old, lonely, and sick people and instead to pledge support for them. The objectives of the campaign were achieved in full – from the many Lithuanians who attended the events, to those who watched the reports on TV and donated to people in need.

The Order of Malta Volunteers collected more than EUR 100,000 in donations. The funds will be used for the social projects they operate throughout the year in 26 cities. The sponsors also covered the costs of the campaign.