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|  Published Tuesday, June 23, 2020
$243,000-plus from
the fundraising campaign
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The fundraising campaign called "Con Vos Podemos" raised $243,591 through Kölbi text messages, the government announced on Monday.
"Con Vos Podemos" is a campaign collecting donations to help impoverished people who have been affected by the covid -19 emergency measures. The motto, "with you we can" was created by the government along with other public institutions.
Kölbi cell phone users made their donations by texting the code 5613 to donate ₡2000, 5614 to donate ₡4000, and 5615 to donate ₡5000.
According to the government, the official delivery of the money was made by the Electricity Institute, the organization in charge of the Kölbi telephone line, which was received by representatives of the National Emergency Commission.
"In the emergency caused by the covid-19, Costa Rica has been in solidarity, and proof of this is the money that today Kölbi gives to the National Emergency Commission," said First Lady Claudia Dobles, who spearheaded the fundraising campaign.
According to the government, the money will be used to buy food packages and cleaning supplies that will be delivered to 1,650 elderly people, families in extreme poverty, people with disabilities and the population that saw their income decrease due to contract suspensions, dismissal or inability to continue with their businesses.
In May, the National Emergency Commission reported to have delivered almost 50,000 food packages, purchased with funds obtained from the campaign.
An estimated 107,667 food packages were delivered to families living in poverty caused by the economic crisis created by the series of preventive measures ordered by the government to try and contain the expansion of covid-19 in the country, according to the Commission.
Food was also delivered to populations practicing isolation for sanitary orders issued by the government through the Ministry of Health.
Thousands of families received food packages that included grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes, among other basic foods purchased with money from the National Emergency Fund, in addition to the funds raised by the “Con Vos Podemos” donation campaign.
According to the authorities, the Emergency Fund plus the money raised has been used to deliver food to 4,650 families.
Kölbi is one of three lines to release numbers in regards to the fundraising campaign, Movistar and Claro were also taking donations to the fundraising campaign.
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How should the government reimburse the people for the money they have lost as a consequence of the restrictive measures forced to contain covid-19? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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