SMEs, large groups and health establishments are mobilizing everywhere in France.
“It’s good to watch people do something. But it’s good to help too.This is what Thierry Daliphard thought when he bought two generators to donate to a Ukrainian hospital. Two 7 kWh devices, acquired on the turnover of his small logistics consulting company in Ardèche, TD LOG’OP. Vital equipment for Ukraine at war at a time when power and water cuts are legion, the country facing Russian bombardments on its energy sites. A few days ago, the entrepreneur’s donation arrived safely thanks to one of the humanitarian convoys set up by the NGO Doc4Ukraine.
Created a week after the Russian invasion in February, this structure is today a network of 70 French companies and health establishments allied to help Ukrainian hospitals, orphanages and retirement homes. ” We are sending medical equipment and emergency food aid all over the countryexplains President Caroline Didier. Initially, I solicited hospitals in France who gave what they could, samples, old devices… Then I targeted companies because they too can donate what makes a hospital run: hydroalcoholic gel, linen, reams of papers, bedding… 350 tonnes of donations have passed through Ukraine since the beginning of the war.
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This specialist in business transformation founded Doc4Ukraine from a blank sheet of paper, overwhelmed by the fate of health professionals, children, the elderly, wounded soldiers. Under the impetus of the association, a plethora of French companies are mobilizing: Decathlon has provided sleeping bags, Nestlé infant milk and other products, the Wetix agency has bought plane tickets to send nurse trainers and doctors, Geodis handles transport logistics and collects donations. Rungis Market or the Gustave-Roussy Institute which donated several boxes of medical and surgical equipment.
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react quickly
With its brand Le sommier français, the SME Matelas 365 has graciously provided 90 mattresses.“The situation affects us alltestifies Lisa Lévy, director of communication. It was the way to do something at our level. With the reception of the injured, the hospitals need to change the beds regularly.» The printer Exa Print manufactures labels, magnets for vehicles and stickers with the association’s logo, also allowing the teams to be identifiable on the ground. Donations are transported to various warehouses in Europe and then to eastern Ukraine before being dispersed as needed in coordination with local authorities.
Caroline Didier’s strategy to challenge donors? Multiply passages on continuous news channels and messages on LinkedIn.“Solidarity is extraordinary, she assures. “Recently I appealed for donations to fight against the cold and the power cuts and a Corsican craftsman who saw me on television contacted me to donate tarpaulins. Then about twenty villages on the island came together to organize a collection. Pallets loaded with equipment will soon arrive at the port of Marseille. The association, which has no fixed costs, operates solely through partnerships.
“We are on the same tempo as the war, we have to adapt and move quickly. Regional hospitals no longer have water or electricity… If you have no power, you have nothing.” Refrigerators (useful for storing blood too) can no longer work, nor the telephone network.“There is no surgery, no school because night falls early. And then people can no longer work.”
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