President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca today launched the ‘MCCF 1 Euro Campaign’ in aid of The Malta Community Chest Fund. Through this campaign, the Malta Community Chest Fund is inviting all the employers and the employees in Malta and Gozo to donate 1 Euro from their wages every month to the Fund. The President explained that every month, the Malta Community Chest Fund receives around 200 new applications from people who are suffering from severe chronic diseases or those who are passing through various situations which would result in them seeking help from the Malta Community Chest Fund.

“The Malta Community Chest Fund is the only national fund that helps people who would be in need of care and specialised therapy and it spends approximately 250,000 euro monthly on chemotherapy and specialised care. It also spends some 25,000 euro monthly on family members who accompany their sick relatives abroad. Apart from this, the MCCF is spending 22,000 euro monthly on the acquisition of medical equipment such as mobility aids, wheelchairs and specialised mattresses. 10,000 euros monthly are spent on social help which includes food vouchers and financial help for students pursuing further studies. Lastly, the MCCF spends 900,000 euros annually to help NGOs”

The President of Malta explained that The Malta Community Chest Fund cannot find itself in a position where a call for help is refused simply because there would be insufficient funds. It is for this reason, she explained, that 1 Euro each month from everyone would make a difference in the lives of families seeking the help of the Malta Community Chest Fund.

The press conference was also addressed by Mr Carmel Briffa, Secretary to the Presidency, who explained that a letter is going to be sent to the employers for it to be disseminated amongst their employees so that those interested could apply for the 1 Euro to be deducted automatically from their wages. Mr Joe Farrugia, Director General of the Malta Employers’ Association explained how MEA is doing all it can to encourage all the employers to partake in this initiative for such a good cause.

The event was attended by a number of representatives from various Trade Unions who are supporting this intiative; GWU, MUMN, Malta Union of Tourist Guides, Chamber of Pharmacists and the Malta Union of Teachers.