A total of 78,471 hours of voluntary work were pledged by the Maltese public during yesterday’s edition of Xarabank, during which the Noffri.com initiative was officially launched. The initiative aims to ‘raise’ voluntary work hours, instead of funds, for the Malta Community Chest Fund.
Noffri.com is supported by Citadel Insurance and Isupport Ltd. The MCCF will be distributing the hours pledged according to the needs of persons and organisations in need of help.
Several professional workers, including doctors, nurses, lawyers and architects phoned in during the TV show to offer to do voluntary work. Others included drivers, cleaners, and care workers. Some also offered to do community work, keep company to elderly people, read to children and work with animals.
Government Whip Godfrey Farrugia has pledged to carry out 55 hours of voluntary work as he is about to turn 55. In a telephone link, Dr Farrugia announced that his cancer treatment results have been positive and he feels as if he has won his life back.
President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca announced that she will dedicate 20 hours to work with children. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat will be helping members of the Special Olympics team and Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil will be doing 20 hours of voluntary work at Caritas. Archbishop Charles Scicluna will be working with the elderly.
The President and her husband, Edgar Preca, thanked the public for once again showing their generosity. Mrs Coleiro Preca said she was immensely proud to see people pledging to help those in need.
The Malta Community Chest Fund thanked Xarabank presenter Peppi Azzopardi and his team, Gordon Pace, Citadel Insurance, I Support Ltd and GO Plc for helping with the initiative and yesterday’s show.