The proceeds from depositing bottles and cans at the pilgrimage in Šaštín-Stráže on the occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, taking place on September 15, will support children from marginalized groups. The initiative is a collaboration between the non-profit organization (NPO) Deposit System Administrator and the Conference of Bishops of Slovakia (KBS), Monika Farka from the NPO Deposit System Administrator told TASR.
She explained that pilgrims will have the opportunity to hand over empty plastic bottles and beverage cans to volunteers at designated collection points. “The donated deposit will be used to provide drinking water for children and youth at the oratory in Šaštín, which serves young people from marginalized groups and offers them educational and developmental activities,” she said.
The Deposit System Administrator and KBS signed a memorandum of cooperation in June aimed at expanding the deposit system for single-use beverage containers to public events for the faithful organized under the patronage of KBS. “This cooperation also includes support for charitable projects as well as educating and informing the public about the need to protect the environment and practice ecological behavior,” Farka added.
The goal is to maximize the collection of deposits wherever large groups of people gather. “We consider it important that deposit containers do not end up in trash bins or scattered around, but are systematically collected so that the proceeds from these deposits can be used for a good cause,” explained the director of the NPO, Marián Áč.
Bratislava Archbishop Stanislav Zvolenský emphasized that the Church has long highlighted that protecting creation is part of faith and responsibility to God. “Even a practical step like participating in the deposit system becomes a sign of respect for nature and solidarity with people who need help,” he said.
Organizers of the event are therefore urging all participants of the National Pilgrimage in Šaštín to hand over their empty deposit containers to the prepared collection points. “This simple step has great significance for both nature and the people who need assistance,” Farka concluded.
Source: TASR
