Thanks to the Glendzo family, more than 300 tons of food and chemical aid were distributed to 6.000 families in Montenegro in the past three years.
In addition to helping the most vulnerable through the Red Cross (CK), benefactors also finance the work of the National Kitchen of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral (MCP) in Cetinje. In that kitchen, 100 to 150 meals are prepared every day.
Originally from Cetinje, members of the Glendjo family are German citizens, live in Berlin and are not too well known to the public, because they do not want to talk publicly about the good they have done.
A friend of the family, Ivan Grdinić, who is authorized to procure and distribute aid on behalf of the Glendžo family, says that they have never had the need to talk about the money they have been allocating for years to help Montenegro.
He states that every year 2.000 families in all Montenegrin cities receive help through the Central Committee.
"On the ground, we made sure that the help was timely, but, unfortunately, it was not nearly enough. According to the official data of the Central Committee, about 200 tons of aid in food and hygiene products were distributed this year, half of which was provided by the Glendjo family. I find it fascinating that a family of German citizens, who, apart from Montenegrin origins, have nothing to do with our everyday life, donates half of the total aid distributed by the Central Committee. At the same time, disappointment and, in a way, embarrassment are inevitable, because one family donates more than the entire population and the Montenegrin economy," says Grdinić.
He explains that the same humanitarian action will be implemented in 2020, so he believes that it is an excellent opportunity for many to "show their patriotism, which they so often swear by".
"There is no better way to show loyalty to Montenegro than to help the most vulnerable residents. On behalf of the donors, I would like to thank the family of Mladen Božović from Cetinje, the rector of the Cetinje Seminary Gojko Perović, HDl Laković and CKCG, especially the volunteers who used to carry aid on foot to the most remote villages. In this way, the volunteers show that, perhaps, there is still hope that there are still people here who are ready to put the general interest before personal well-being", Grdinić said.
The Red Cross is very grateful to the Glendzo family, which has already provided support for the distribution of humanitarian aid three times, said Milica Kovačević from that organization.
"Such donations are extremely useful, primarily because a large number of families and individuals still need support in this way. Another reason is the fact that fewer and fewer donors are ready to support actions of this type. That is why we hope that other individuals and business entities, both from Montenegro and beyond, will be guided by the example of the Glendzo family. We certainly hope that we will continue our cooperation with the Glendzo family in the future as well".
Fascinating sensibility towards the poorest
Mladen Božović, who runs a folk kitchen in Cetinje, says that the help of the Glendzo family is extremely important. He explains that others should follow their example of social responsibility.
"Their works should have much more public attention. Their sensibility for the difficulties of the poorest inhabitants of Montenegro is fascinating. Unfortunately, many successful people living in Montenegro do not have that kind of feeling and responsibility," said Božović for "Vijesti".
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