The National Association of Opticians (ANO) dared Portuguese opticians to do their challenge “Together, looking after Ukraine”. When it comes to helping Ukraine, they all come forwards and make themselves available to give the best they can for everybody’s sake.
Facing the current reality in Ukraine, the National Association of Opticians (ANO) – as well as many other entities in Portugal and in the rest of Europe – “rolled up its sleeves” and organised an item collection campaign entitled “Together, looking after Ukraine”.
In an interview with ÓpticaPro, Fernando Tomaz, chairman of the board of ANO, explained that “as part of our social responsibility, and in order to support Ukrainian citizens, we contacted the Ukrainian Refugees Association (UAPT), which provided us with a list of materials needed in the conflict zones, especially health and childcare goods. For this purpose, ANO promoted a campaign to collect items along with its associates, between the 8th and 18th of March”. According to him, the feedback was great. “Many of our associates were already collaborating with entities of their municipalities, which made us very proud. Thus, in addition to the collaboration of some associates, ANO also made a donation to this cause, representing all the associated optical companies”. Fernando Tomaz added that “Helping those who need it most is always important and its outcome can only be positive. It is with great satisfaction that we managed to collect more than 100 boxes of medicine, more than 1,500 items to use in emergency rooms, more than 200 articles of child hygiene and more than 300 meals and baby food products”, donations that were delivered at the end of March at the UAPT facilities.
The chairman of the board of ANO also exposed having other ideas to help Ukrainian refugees entering Portugal, namely regarding professional reinsertion.
