The food we need: the ACLI project in Rome that recovered 200 kilos of produce

During a year of lockdown, when any contact was truly difficult, they were able to recover approximately 200 kilograms of food , destined for waste, and distribute it to those in need , starting with the poorest families in working-class neighborhoods. The volunteers involved in the Il cibo che serve (The Food That Serves) project, launched by ACLI (Italian Association of Italian Workers' Unions) in Rome , is a highly interesting format for combining the fight against food waste with concrete and effective solidarity.

THE FOOD YOU NEED

It all began with the first part of the project, Bread for Those Who Need It , which focused on bread and baked goods . Any leftovers from the network of bread retailers connected to the ACLI Rome project are redistributed locally through volunteer associations that support poor families. After the bread, other foods arrived. The numbers are impressive: 130 kilograms of fruit and vegetables, 4 kilograms of cured meats, and over 2 boxes with chicken, sandwiches, and drinks.

ACLI FOOD RECOVERY

The Il cibo che serve (The Food That Serves ) project is simple yet well-structured across the country. On the one hand, there are 2 participating stores that recover food that would otherwise be wasted and deliver it to collection centers. Beyond the gesture of solidarity, these businesses also benefit: reduced disposal costs . The products donated through the Il cibo che serve (The Food That Serves) project would otherwise end up in the trash, eliminating the expense.

ACLI AGAINST FOOD WASTE

Once the food is delivered by the vendors, it's then collected and distributed through a mini-network of six local branches . From there, the products end up in volunteer associations, all registered by ACLI, and then in individual families. The scope for growth for a project like Il cibo che serve (The Food That Serves) is enormous. On the one hand, the format simply needs to be strengthened and made viable neighborhood by neighborhood and in other cities, with groups of affiliated vendors divided by area and the proliferation of community collection and distribution centers.

For example, parishes could be involved more frequently.
Second, the amount of food wasted because it's close to its expiration date is enormous, a bottomless pit. In Rome alone, where the "Il cibo che serve" project was born, 200 kilos of bread are wasted and end up in the garbage every day. And many organizations, starting with Caritas, spend thousands of euros to purchase bread to distribute to the poor they serve.

SAVE MONEY IN THE KITCHEN:

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