Tons of material aid already processed by volunteers

The company ISO Glass offered their warehouse to the International Police Organisation (IPO) to collect, sort and distribute material aid.

Volunteers collect material aid and take inventory. Everything has to be packaged into smaller packages and weighed to be fit for helicopter transport. The supplies are then loaded onto trucks and vans. Several tons of material aid have already been sent out, the head of the warehouse, Črt Slavec, told the STA.

The work starts at 6 in the morning and goes on until three in the morning. Volunteers are tired but positive and ready to help.

When asked about his tasks, volunteer Matic Novak said that he did whatever was necessary. "I help with the packing, logistics, organisation, wherever I'm needed," he said. "I believe when something like this happens we have an obligation to lend a hand and offer our time to help those in need," he said.

Novak is also a member of the IPO, an organisation promoting the professions of police officers, soldiers, paramedics and firefighters. Its members gave the idea to collect material aid. IPO was then able to spread the word with the help of influencers and their warehouse is now likely the largest in Ljubljana.

"On the first day, there was a lot of help, on the second it was enormous, the third day it exceeded all expectations," said Slavec.

Many famous Slovenians have lent a hand, including musicians, athletes and former President Borut Pahor.

Foreigners are also volunteering. Stephanie Garneau, a Canadian teacher, has been helping in the warehouse for two days. Before, she helped clean in Škofja Loka. She has lived in Slovenia for five years and considers the country her home, "that is why we immediately started looking for ways to help," she said.

Her friends and family abroad are also following the developments. "They send me money so that I can donate to humanitarian organisations in their name," Garneau said, adding that there was a lot of support from around the globe.

Companies are getting involved as well, some providing transport, others food for volunteers and packaging materials. Individuals are also constantly bringing cars full of supplies.

It is important that we supply items that are needed at the moment, said warehouse coordinator Petra Aršič. "Every morning we call civil protection hubs and mayors to check what they need and then we supply it," she added. When stock in the warehouse is low, they inform people, also via Instagram. Aršič asks that people check what is needed before bringing supplies.

"We mostly deliver to the most flooded areas. Most food went to the Savinja Valley, at the start also to the Koroška region," said Aršič. Now cleaning supplies, tools and protective gear are the most delivered items to the Koroška region, Komenda and Mengeš.

Aršič said that at a recent delivery to Luče, a settlement in the north of the country that was hit hard by the floods, the locals were so happy that they did not want the truck drivers to go.

The Red Cross logistics centre had a more relaxed Thursday morning as it was expecting a delivery of dehumidifiers from Germany. Most food that they packaged on Wednesday was already delivered.

"Our storage and distribution capacities have been in places damaged by the flood, so we only take in items that can immediately be sent forward," said Red Cross Slovenia general secretary Cvetka Tomin. "Otherwise the place would be packed to the brim and when we needed something we wouldn't be able to find it," she added.

The centre also receives aid from Red Cross organisations abroad. The delivery from Hungary included toiletries, cleaning supplies, towels, diapers, as well as canned food and quick-prep meals, said Red Cross employee Slavko Hiti, adding that Polish colleagues sent toiletries, cleaning supplies and detergent.

As the centre receives help from Slovenia and abroad daily, volunteers and family members of Red Cross employees are always ready to help if needed, Hiti said.

There is still demand for work boots, gloves and cleaning supplies, he said. "We are still looking for dehumidifiers," Tomin added.

The centre also responds to specific requests, "such as a request for yeast so that they can make their own bread," she said.

"It is wonderful to see how resourceful people are in these difficult times, how they organise themselves and we try to support them in their efforts," Tomin said.