On Saturday 20th September, the Gozo Volunteers also visited the elderly residents at St Therese Home in Victoria, Gozo. Run by the Carmelite nuns, this residence for the elderly is situated up the road which leads to the Knights’ Citadel. The relief corps distributed cake and gifts to the elderly women residing in this home. The Carmelite nuns thanked the Order of Malta Volunteers in Gozo for the visit and also augured for more cooperation in the future.

The Order of Malta organised another Organ Donors Campaign during the Charity Fair organised by the Friends of the Sick and Elderly in Gozo at the Victoria Football Ground. Confrere George Farrugia from the Western Association also helped the Gozo Volunteers on the Order of Malta stand. Every time a campaign is organised, new people enroll as organ donors.

Last week, the Order of Malta Volunteers in Gozo started another project for the benefit of the asylum seekers residing in Gozo. The donation from the Friends of Gozo has to be utilized for the benefit of these immigrants. Currently the Order of Malta is supplying sanitary items; the first batch of supplies were purchased from a store at a cheap price.

Currently, the Order of Malta Volunteer in Gozo is also analyzing how to respond in winter when refugee camps have a shortage of blankets. The Order of Malta in Gozo will also seek logistical assistance if Christian refugees from Syria and Iraq are hosted in the Maltese Islands.

During the past few months, the Order of Malta Volunteer in Gozo has continued to provide a special transport service for wheelchair cases and patients who needed assistance in Gozo. Transports varied from residences to medical institutions, outpatient transport to hospital, outings for elderly persons from homes and pilgrimages to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu and religious feasts. A family of a sick person also benefited from this service every day. St Dominic’s Home for the elderly, Nadur Day Centre, Carmelite Home, Catholic Action widows of Victoria and St Martha Center for the Disabled were regular users of this important service.

We augur that this special ambulance service provided by the Order of Malta, continues to run for the benefit of the community.