ARCA project in Milan and meeting Medici Voluntari Italiani

We drove up to Milan on Jan 23rd.  The next morning we met at the Bimbo store to purchase items for ARCA, an organization that houses moms and children (the oldest child is 6 years old and most are about 2 years old).  They help 55 moms, 40 kids, and some of those moms are expecting new babies (all conceived by violence but they chose to keep the babies). The moms are from Somalia and Eritrea.    The director of ARCA had already pre-arranged which items were needed, so all we had to do was to inspect the items and then pay for them.  In this photo we have the ARCA representative (with coat and scarf on) and the 2nd counselor in the Stake Presidency, Pres Bortolu.  The other ladies were Bimbo employees, Monia (holding her coat) is the Stake Public Affairs Director and organized the project.

The items were brought in for us to inspect.  The Bimbo lady was the supervisor of the store.

There was everything needed for moms and babies:  clothes, blankets, pacifiers, bottles, formula, strollers, highchairs, nursing supplies including an electric pump, etc.

It was great to have the store onboard with helping to make the order go smoothly.  Here the girls were checking and removing the store electronic labels.

Now it's time to pay.  

We were able to purchase so much!  It's cool because during January we took advantage of the sales.  In addition the store gave us a discount.  We saved 1,000 euros between the sales and the store discount allowing us to buy even  more supplies!  Win-win-win.  The store was happy, ARCA and the moms/babies were happy, and we were happy we could help!

Yeah, Bimbo.  That really is the name of the store.  About this project I just want to say it went so smoothly:  Monia did the legwork in Milan, the ARCA directors had pre-chosen the supplies, all we were needed for was the funding!  No messy shipments from Frankfurt (don't get me started!) and the money we spent stayed in the Italian economy.  Now all projects should go this smoothly!  

Next appointment was with Medici Volontari Italiani.  

Here is the 'heartbeat' and soul of Medici Volontari Italiani.  This group is organized with 100 volunteers and ONE part time employee who is the secretary.  They asked us to visit them because they are searching for partners to help fund a new mobile medical unit.  This group of men are retired and volunteer their time to keep the volunteer unit functioning.  Here they are showing us the medicine storage facility.  Most medicines are donated, but there are many that still need to be purchased.

We are  listening to their proposal.  They have many needs but their #1 priority is for a new medical van.  The old one doesn't have heating, it won't pass 'control technique', it's a 2005 van and it's not possible to just upgrade:  a brand new one is needed at the cost of about 100,000 euros.  They have other donors and they are hoping LDSC will also contribute a portion.  

We were invited to see the current medical van in action.  We took the metro to the Central Station where every night the van operates from 9:00pm until midnight.  It also operated during the day in other locations around the city.   It was pouring rain and very cold.  The city is able to house most people that are on the street, but one function of the van is to give these people a 'green card' to enter the communal sleep areas of the city.  The green card indicates they do not have any transmittable diseases.  We are waiting to get inside the van because the Doctor is seeing a 'patient'.

Here a couple of boys were also waiting.  They were in pain because of wounds on the bottom of their feet.

Meet the Doctor on call that night.  Many of the Doctors work all day, then come out all evening to volunteer their services!  Some are retired, but many just donate several hours each week as a volunteer.  We were told that for some Doctors it was an 'enjoyable' service because they were free of many of the restrictions and pressures from their hospitals.

Another volunteer, another type of service needed.  This man drove the van, supplied a 2nd man in the van for 'protection' to the Doctor, and also entered all the data needed to treat each patient.

This man didn't mind that we were in the van at the same time he was seen by the Doctor:  He desperately wanted to be seen!  Note that the van has no heating, thus the Doctor keeps his coat on!  If there is an organization that LDSC should help, it should be this one!  Can you imagine....not one cent would go to salary or overhead, and literally every dime would go direct to those in need because everything is run by volunteers!

The next day we took the metro to the ARCA facility to be part of the 'thank-you' party for the supplies we donated.  With us was Pres. Paolino and Pres.Bortolu as well as Monia.  Afterwards the Stake Presidency took us to lunch.  We had a great discussion:  Humanitarian funds vs Fast Offering funds in helping the member refugees.  Milan mission baptizes more refugees than Italians, and Rome just had that happen for the first time this past accounting.  The refugee 'crises' has now officially inundated the Stakes and Wards and  Bishops and they are crying out for help and for answers.  How do they help?  How can they access the necessary funds that are needed for member refugees?  Tom and I don't have the answers.  Well actually, we have ideas, but I doubt anybody wants our input!  Anybody?  ......

Unfortunately we were not allowed to see the moms/babies receive their supplies.  It was a 'sterile' experience.  We were able to talk to the workers and as always we were impressed with their dedication and care of the refugees.  I was hoping to see the guests of the complex, but we only got to meet one mom and her two boys. (and no photos allowed)  I might note  that interfacing with the refugees is a very delicate situation.  Most times they are very protected.  Unless you are a worker or a regular volunteer you rarely interface with the refugees.  The only place that it's 'free range' to talk and mingle is at Baobab in Rome.