If there are families in Aveiro with an empty pantry, the best way to help them is to take “their pantry” to the supermarket, thus giving everyone the chance to fill them. For this reason, in the last two weeks of October, our “Despensa Solidária” (Solidarity Pantry) was at Glicínias Plaza to collect food and hygiene items for some local institutions that will deliver these items to the neediest families.

In the month in which we remember poverty with the “International Day for the Eradication of Poverty”, on October 17th, and at a time when we are beginning to look at the social problems that have deepened with the pandemic, we think it is essential not to forget those who have already found more fragile.

The people from Aveiro were up to the challenge and donated 270 kg of goods, such as canned food, olive oil, cereals, rice, pasta, shampoo, detergents, among others. All donated goods will help us to achieve our goal of not leaving so many empty plates.

Fortunately, we are not alone in this task and we have the help of Florinhas do Vouga and Centro de Ação Social do Concelho de Ílhavo (CASCI) who will make these goods reach those who need them most. These local IPSS (Private Social Solidarity Institutions) are fundamental for the proximity component that we are trying to insert with this project.

“Despensa Solidária” is part of the “Underground Division” project. Its partners are Glicínias Plaza,  Florinhas do Vouga, and Centro de Acção Social do Concelho de Ílhavo. It counts with the support of the Aveiro’s City Hall,  European Solidarity Corps,  Programa Geração Z, and IPDJ - Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude I.P..