Bari Social Food: People with Down's Syndrome Take Charge of Food Recovery

A chain of solidarity, uniting people facing different fragilities, different needs, and often overlooked, but united by the desire to build relationships. Also thanks to fight against food waste, one of the most serious scandals that takes place every day in general indifference.

BARI SOCIAL FOOD AND FOOD RECOVERY BY PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME

In the province of Bari, it all starts with the project Bari social food, which involved the local branch of the Italian Association of People with Down Syndrome (AIPD). Every Tuesday, a group of young people from the Bari AIPD, accompanied by specialized educators, go to the Japigia Santa Chiara municipal market. They arrive shortly before closing time, collect unsold products destined for the garbage, and deliver them to the Caritas center of the parish of San Francesco d'Assisi.From here, the food is distributed to the families who have requested it.

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FARINA 080 ONLUS

The project has a double strength. On the one hand, it avoids food waste and transforms it into an opportunity for needy families and for the volunteer associations that assist them, always short of resources. On the other hand, people with Down syndrome carry out a real therapeutic activity, feeling involved in helping others. A lever that opens dialogue and relationships. The project also Bari social food It is part of the activities of the social cooperative Farina 080 that with the program Leftover people It managed to recover approximately 75 kilograms of food with over 200 collaborations between citizens, businesses, and associations committed to fighting poverty.

Cover image source: BariViva

INITIATIVES TO HELP THOSE IN DIFFICULTY:

• Solidarity refrigerators, a Spanish network across the country. In neighborhoods, those with leftover food drop it off, and those in need pick it up (photo)
• Turin volunteers who collect leftover food from markets and give it to the poor
• Equoevento, the association that recovers leftover food and distributes it to the poor.