Desmos Non-Profit Foundation made an emergency donation of operational equipment to the Hellenic Federation of Volunteer Organisations for Forest Protection and Firefighting (P.O.E.O.D.P.), responding to needs that arose following the wildfires in Boeotia and Western Attica in early August.
In response to the needs of its member teams, the Federation recorded reported losses and damage to essential operational equipment and submitted a relevant request to Desmos. Following approval of the donation, the Federation undertook the collection and distribution of the equipment to 20 volunteer firefighting teams that had participated in the response to these wildfires.
The donation aimed to ensure the immediate replacement of essential operational equipment that had been damaged or destroyed during firefighting operations, helping restore the operational readiness of the volunteer teams.
The equipment provided included:
- 20 firefighting nozzles
- 120 fire hoses
- 50 Storz coupling wrenches
- 40 protective masks with replacement filters
The immediate replacement of this equipment enables the volunteer forest protection and firefighting teams to continue their work with the necessary resources, strengthening volunteer safety and maintaining their operational readiness for the remainder of the wildfire season.
The donation was made through the Desmos Emergency Fund, a dedicated reserve established to ensure that resources are available before a crisis occurs. This enables Desmos to mobilise immediately when an emergency arises, without losing valuable time securing funding.
Vaso Panagopoulou, Programme Development Manager at Desmos Non-Profit Foundation, said:
“Crises cannot always be predicted, but we can be prepared for the moment when action is needed. This is the principle behind the Emergency Fund. Our aim was to enable the volunteer teams to immediately replace equipment that had been lost or damaged during the wildfires, so that they could remain operationally ready and continue their work safely for the remainder of the wildfire season.
We would like to thank the Federation for its cooperation and the volunteer forest protection and firefighting teams for their invaluable contribution.”
Stavros Salagiannis, President of the Hellenic Federation of Volunteer Organisations for Forest Protection and Firefighting, said:
“Damage to and loss of equipment during demanding operations directly affect the readiness of volunteer teams. Desmos’ immediate response to our request enabled us to address essential needs and provide vital equipment to 20 of our member teams that participated in the recent wildfire response.
On behalf of the Hellenic Federation, we would like to express our sincere thanks to Desmos for its meaningful, immediate and practical support for volunteer forest protection and firefighting teams.
This initiative demonstrates in practice the importance of cooperation and rapid response to the needs of volunteers working in the field and supporting, within the scope of their responsibilities and established procedures, the work of the competent authorities.”
Desmos Non-profit Foundation operates as a reliable connecting link for social giving in Greece, linking donations from individuals, companies, and foundations with recorded and verified needs of civil society organizations across the country in an effective and transparent way. According to an Impact Study conducted by Deloitte for Desmos (April 2025), for every €1 donated for the operation of Desmos, €10.7 returns to society. Learn more at desmos.org
The Hellenic Federation of Volunteer Organisations for Forest Protection and Firefighting (P.O.E.O.D.P.) represents volunteer forest protection and firefighting organisations from across Greece, strengthening their cooperation, communication and operational readiness. Its member teams operate in the field in accordance with established procedures and following mobilisation by the competent authorities, supporting their work to protect the natural environment, human life and local communities. Find out more at poeodp.gr
