Never have good deeds, even small ones, made so much sense! Today we share one of them. Because we know that gestures of generosity are always a treat, not only for the recipient, but also for the giver.
Many events and activities have been cancelled at FMUL. One was the Candidate's Day, which takes place every year in April. Surprisingly, the day of its cancellation coincided with the sending of more than 200 cereal bars from Nestlé, the regular sponsor of this event. With all events being cancelled and most of the employees working from home, the boxes with the sponsors' offers were stored without destination in the short term.
One of the members of the Candidate's Day team received a request from the IMM: "Would it be possible to distribute the 200 cereal bars among our researchers, who are working tirelessly to help fight this pandemic?"
The answer was positive, obviously! The bars would be a small recognition for those who remain on the front line.
Requests were quickly made for the appropriate operational and logistical authorizations, and in the middle of these emails, another suggestion came: “How about sharing the bars with the security guards and cleaning ladies, who continue to perform their duties every day? Wouldn't it also be a way to show some recognition for their effort, so often invisible?”
The joint response was again positive and in record time the cereal bars, a small comfort, were distributed to everyone.
Believe me, this joint and quick effort, on a Wednesday morning when the vast majority of the participants were working from their homes, was more than symbolic. This action, however small it may seem, shows that all of us, in times of crisis, know how to prioritize what really matters. And I believe that it left all those involved with a smile on their faces and with a full heart.
Thank you all very much!
To the Candidate's Day team, Nestlé, the IMM Communication Office, Dr Isabel Aguiar and the FMUL Facilities and Equipment team.
Thanks also to all health professionals, researchers, security and cleaning teams who continue to work to ensure everything is fine.
Sónia Teixeira
Editorial Team