In the warm days of June, Ithaca had the pleasure of welcoming to the field of action people from the artistic field, with strong interest and willingness to offer, in the context of the excellent and valuable collaboration with LG.

The LG team together with Youlika Skafida, Giorgos Pyrpasopoulos, Dena Tsalaga, Haris Giakoumatos, Yannis Stankoglou, Eleni Morantzi, Natalia Arsenikou and Dimitris Makalias met with our fellow homeless people, they were informed about the current situation of homelessness in Attica, they learned more details about Ithaca‘s services and offered their support. At the same time, they had the opportunity to get to know the employees of the mobile unit, who participate in the Work Reintegration program, an initiative of Ithaca which LG supported in the beginning.

LG‘s significant support with the washing and drying units, both in Ithaca’s Mobile Unit and in the operation of the organization in the Multilateral Homeless Center of the Municipality of Athens, has led to the service of more than 9,000 beneficiaries and more than 170 tons of clean clothes, within 7 years of cooperation.

About Ithaca:

The non-profit organization Ithaca was founded in 2015 and aims to reintegrate and increase the social integration of the homeless and other vulnerable groups. Ithaca operates Europe’s first mobile laundry unit providing hygiene services and job reintegration opportunities to people from socially vulnerable groups. To date it has helped 9,000+ people, completing over 35,000 visits, delivering 170+ tons of clean clothes. By providing a psychosocial service, it has already responded to over 1,800 requests from beneficiaries, while it has successfully contributed to the work reintegration of 48 people from vulnerable groups.

About LG Electronics Hellas: 

LG Electronics Greece was founded as a subsidiary company in 2002, as part of the international strategy for even faster and more efficient development. The aim is to make a strong contribution to both the Greek and European markets, based on the company’s long-term experience, supported by technological superiority, innovative design and an emphasis on quality pre- and after-sales services. LG Electronics Greece has established itself as a pioneer in all the developments of the digital age while it has established itself in the perception of its consumers and partners. During its course, the company has introduced many new products, applied new technologies in the manufacture of mobile and digital devices, and continues to strengthen its dominant position in the domestic market by presenting innovative, highly designed consumer solutions for home entertainment and appliances. In addition, LG Electronics Greece offers integrated solutions to professionals and businesses, as the LG Business Solutions professional department has experienced particular growth in recent years, successfully completing collaborations with leading Greek companies, as well as international and domestic tourist units, offering solutions with advanced HVAC systems, digital signage displays, hotel televisions and LED lighting products. For more information, visit www.lg.com/gr.

On the evening of April 19, we found ourselves next to our fellow homeless people, through the “Bedrock of Participation for Homelessness” program!

A total of 75 volunteers, together with Ithaca and PRAKSIS organized a large-scale action, addressing people who live in street conditions and lack basic goods.

In the action, 200 kits with basic hygiene goods, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, wet wipes, toilet paper, antiseptics as well as necessary products such as sleeping bags, were distributed in 4 locations in Athens and Piraeus. The goal, to get these goods to the people who need them, directly, was achieved!

Many thanks to all the volunteers who participated in the action with multiple roles! Both for finding and organizing the products, as well as in their distribution!

Endless EC stood by us by providing 800 pieces of hygiene items for people on the street, as well as with their employees helping with the distribution!

Open Paths Athens was also a big help, as they offered 100 sleeping bags, as well as helping to organize a distribution point!

Thank you very much everyone!

About Ithaca:

The non-profit organization Ithaca was founded in 2015 and aims to reintegrate and increase the social integration of the homeless and other vulnerable groups. Ithaca operates Europe’s first mobile laundry unit providing hygiene services and job reintegration opportunities to people from socially vulnerable groups. To date it has helped 8,900+ people, completing over 33,000 visits, delivering 169+ tons of clean clothes. By providing a psychosocial service, it has already responded to over 1,400 requests from beneficiaries, while it has successfully contributed to the work reintegration of 44 people from vulnerable groups.

About Endless EC

Endless EC is a purely Greek company, which is active in the processing of tissue paper products, the production of liquid detergents as well as the marketing of personal hygiene and related items. It is among the largest in the Paper – Detergent sector and is on the list of the largest companies in Greece, based on the ICAP list, employing 232 staff. The company is a Member of the ΕΛΛΑ – ΔΙΚΑ ΜΑΣ initiative, a Community of purely Greek productive companies that maintain their Headquarters, Production and Ownership in Greece.

About Open Paths Athens 

Open Paths Athens is a grassroots community-based organization composed of people from different communities within Athens working together to support and promote equity to all sectors of society. Open Paths Athens supports the people in need in Athens to gain access to health care and mental health services. Promoting civic engagement with local politicians and community leaders in order to influence positive social change.

People experiencing homelessness rarely have the opportunity to enjoy the holidays. Therefore, with the aim of including these people in the festive atmosphere, Ithaca together with Avin, took care of an “Easter for All”!

On Holy Tuesday, April 11, Avin employees, once again, volunteered in support of Ithaca’s action! At the same time, they offered 50 Easter packages with buns, eggs and chocolates, while they actively participated in the socialization of the beneficiaries who visited us!

About Ithaca:

The non-profit organization Ithaca was founded in 2015 and aims to reintegrate and increase the social integration of the homeless and other vulnerable groups. Ithaca operates Europe’s first mobile laundry unit providing hygiene services and job reintegration opportunities to people from socially vulnerable groups. To date it has helped 7,900+ people, completing over 26,000 visits, delivering 130+ tons of clean clothes. By providing a psychosocial service, it has already responded to over 480 requests from beneficiaries, while it has successfully contributed to the work reintegration of 20 people from vulnerable groups.

About Avin: 

AVIN, one of the leading names in the Greek oil market, started its operations in 1977. It has been a 100% subsidiary of Motor Oil since March 2002. Today it employs over 200 workers, has its own oil storage facilities in Agios Theodoros, Corinthia and counts 640 fuel stations throughout Greece, 160 self-operated and 480 cooperative ones.

AVIN products represent a wide range of advanced technological proposals. From the beginning of its operation until today, AVIN faithfully and consistently applies a human-centered philosophy, where ethics, consistency and respect for the consumer are the main characters. In harmony with the spirit of the times and the need for the energy transition, the Company invests in the grid in new forms of energy. Non Fuel Retail is also a strategic growth pillar. The strengthening of “AGORA” retail stores continues and is renewed, reaching 97 gas stations with new rooms, simultaneously increasing the relevant code. An important tool in achieving the Company’s goals is the AVIN Earn program. The program is a great success as it has exceeded 1 million members, with a penetration rate of over 70% of the total consumption of self-operated gas stations. The high level of the products, the network, the operational readiness of the staff and the consistency of delivery even under the most adverse conditions are the reasons why AVIN has won the public’s preference in gas stations and in the industry.

AVIN’s vision is to be recognized as a leading Greek petroleum company, supporting people, offering quality products and services in an honest and responsible manner, utilizing the strength and technology of the Motor Oil refinery. In a market that changes a lot, AVIN, with the active support of the Motor Oil Group, leads the way and adapts to the new data, aspiring to become the best Greek company in its sector.

Ithaca started its journey by offering clean clothes with the mobile unit and also providing work to people from vulnerable groups.

Based on the requests of the people who visit us, we consider it our duty to try to help them in every way we can. For this reason, every year we grow, evolve and develop new actions and services based on these needs!

Get to know the renewed Ithaca, through all of its pillars and actions!

 

About Ithaca:

The non-profit organization Ithaca was founded in 2015 and aims to reintegrate and increase the social integration of the homeless and other vulnerable groups. Ithaca operates Europe’s first mobile laundry unit providing hygiene and laboratory reintegration services to people from socially vulnerable groups. To date it has helped 8.000+ people, completing over 33.000 visits, delivering 160+ tons of clean clothes. By providing a psychosocial service, it has already responded to over 1.300 requests from beneficiaries, while it has successfully contributed to the work reintegration of 37 people from vulnerable groups.

Work reintegration for people from vulnerable groups is a very big need. Ithaca, providing this service, is constantly striving to grow and evolve. With this in mind, from January 2023 and for the next year, Ithaca participates, as an implementation leader, in the Job Skill Recipes program!

The program, in which two other organizations, Zelsirdibas Misija Dzivivas Ediens from Latvia and INERCIA DIGITAL SL from Spain, participate, the partners will establish an open and structured dialogue between themselves, holding regular meetings and site visits, they will get to know each other each other’s work and will share their experiences and tools.

The project includes different methodologies, such as recruiting people in a protective environment until they feel ready to find work on their own, providing job counseling to vulnerable people, engaging them in voluntary activities and providing non-formal education training.

At the same time, several important goals have been set for the organizations, such as the investigation and adoption to some extent of the above four methodologies, the increase in the quality of the programs developed by each organization and the strengthening of their capacities, adopting the methodologies of their partners. Equally important goals are the identification of common needs and priorities in order to identify the most effective ways of applying the methods, as well as the creation of a strong network with the prospect of future collaborations.

 

About Ithaca:

The non-profit organization Ithaca was founded in 2015 and aims to reintegrate and increase the social integration of the homeless and other vulnerable groups. Ithaca operates Europe’s first mobile laundry unit providing hygiene and laboratory reintegration services to people from socially vulnerable groups. To date it has helped 7,900+ people, completing over 26,000 visits, delivering 130+ tons of clean clothes. By providing a psychosocial service, it has already responded to over 480 requests from beneficiaries, while it has successfully contributed to the work reintegration of 20 people from vulnerable groups.