latest embassy news 

U.S. European Military Command Make Donations of Furniture and Linens to Several Schools

March 13, 2000 

Press Conference: Tuesday, March 14, 2000, 12.30 hrs
“Ažuoliuko darželyje”, Plytų 53, Palanga

Contact:  Imsre Sabaliunas, Media Specialist, Tel. 220-481

The U.S. European Military Command through its Humanitarian Assistance Program has made donations of furniture and linens to several schools and a children's home "Ažuoliukas" in Palanga.  Lieutenant Colonel Maella Lohman, the Security Assistance Officer at the American Embassy in Vilnius, has described the program as an on-going civilian assistance program sponsored by the United States Department of Defense. 

The U.S. European Military Command administers several programs designed to support such agencies as Ministry of Health or Education.  One program focuses on U.S. support to projects in schools or hospitals using help from servicemen participating in exercises.  This particular shipment was part of a project begun during Exercise Baltic Challenge.  Other types of programs involve providing financial support for refurbishments and humanitarian assistance through donations of used military property to organizations in need.  Lithuanian schools and "Ažuoliukas" children's home are the beneficiaries of household items such as beds, mattresses, blankets, chests, mirrors, curtains, desks, chairs, bookshelves, sheets, and even refrigerators.  The property was shipped over to Lithuania from U.S. military bases in Germany and allocated as well as distributed by the Children's Rights Security Service (Vaikų Teisių Apsaugos Tarnyba) to meet children's needs in the Palanga region.

Another shipment was made to the children's hospital at Santariškės in Vilnius under the same program.  The Children's Hospital was the recipient of an ambulance, a pickup truck and a large supply of disposable medical equipment.  Future projects are currently being planned to support other regions throughout Lithuania.