By Evie Andreou
NEARLY a thousand people in Nicosia have enrolled for a free daily sandwich at lunchtime provided by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation’s ‘Food from the heart’ programme.
Serial entrepreneur Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou introduced the project to the capital’s mayor, Constantinos Yiorkadjis at the foundation’s offices in the old part of town.
“To be able to help on a daily basis is a gesture that others can depend on. There are many ways to help; this is an easy and efficient way”, Sir Stelios said.
He said that he felt compelled to help Cypriots after witnessing last year’s banking and its impact on the nation.
“Sometimes it’s guilt, you know, because I was lucky, my businesses are going relatively well and I was not impacted from the crisis. I thought that I had to help the people, regardless of nationality and the best way to help is food,” he said.
The programme, launched in May last year from a single base in Limassol, provides daily sandwiches to anyone in need, with simple procedures and without having to present a pile of paperwork.
At the presentation ceremony in Nicosia, students from the nearby Phaneromeni elementary school dropped by to chat with Haji-Ioannou and present him with a bouquet of flowers to thank him for the sandwiches and chocolate bars they receive daily.
“The children are very happy with the snack they receive daily, especially the chocolate. It is a great help for their families, especially now that many parents are unemployed and it is very useful, for the children that stay at school in the afternoon too for sports or music activities,” a teacher said.
“We thank Mr Haji-Ioannou because his initiative is incredibly helpful. In the middle of the worst economic crisis, to help people that need our help is the essence of solidarity and humanity,” said mayor Yiorkadjis.
“Success will be the day we close down this programme, the day that the doors will open and no one shows up, then you will know that we are out of the crisis,” Haji-Ioannou responded.
The founder of easyJet and the easyGroup said that the programme will expand to include the Kaimakli state pre-school and urged other schools that are interested in to benefit from the programme, to contact the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation.
In addition to the outlet in Nicosia, two distribution points already operate in Limassol and Haji-Ioannou said that his foundation is looking for other franchisees in all towns. Those interested to participate in the programme should visit stelios.com for details.
Toula Georgiou is currently the sole franchisee in Nicosia, and together with her husband and mother, they prepare and distribute sandwiches from 10am to 12 noon, Monday to Friday.
She said that 990 people registered within a month and a half and that 750 people receive sandwiches daily.
The distribution point in Nicosia is next to the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation at the corner of Palias Ilektrikis and Eptanisou 57
near the Archbishopric and behind the old town hall.
