The “Terra Alimenta Leiria + Solidário” program, an initiative of the Câmara de Leiria which aims to donate fresh produce in the municipal market for solidarity institutions, gathered in five days over half a ton, was announced this Wednesday 16
“There are 560 kilograms of products donated exclusively by producers, sellers and customers in the municipal market,” Catarina Louro, economic development advisor, told Lusa agency, explaining that the initiative includes measures for support the local economy and mitigate the social and economic impact of the covid-19 pandemic.
According to Catarina Louro, this amount “translates to 1,850 meals”.
The campaign, which began this month and continues until Christmas, the days of the municipal market, “has had a very positive support”, both among producers, sellers and customers, said the mayor.
“Local producers were already used to this type of action and, once again, responded,” said the advisor, referring “that they donate excellent quality products as soon as the market opens” .
Catarina Louro said that “throughout the morning the placement of fresh produce, fruits and vegetables is seen by customers and at the end of the morning, producers and sellers leave the surplus”.
This is the third edition of the “Terra Alimenta Leiria” initiative, but the only one which relies exclusively on donations.
For you who visit us regularly, we have a special campaign.
Subscribe for
2 years
for only
€ 0.22
/
the week
RLDESC2020 – Use this code in
If you are already a subscriber, log in with your account. Login
“In December, we developed stronger solidarity actions and the municipal market also joined, inviting local producers, vendors and customers to donate fresh produce to reach IPSS. [instituições particulares de solidariedade social] that don’t have public support, ”he said.
This includes the Leiria reception center, which prepares meals for the homeless and families in need, and InPulsar, which supports people in socially vulnerable situations, in this case providing them with fresh produce. explained Catarina Louro.
The other IPSS is Lar Rainha Santa Isabel, which welcomes minors and who, although receiving support, articulates the redistribution of products with the Leiria Reception Center, noted the mayor.
In the first two editions of the “Terra Alimenta Leiria” program, 19 IPSS from the municipality were covered, with a different character: “Some prepare meals and distribute them to needy families, others prepare baskets for families and others. ‘others use fresh produce for their users,’ explained Catarina Louro.
“What interested us was not only to help the IPSS, but to avoid the destruction of tons of fruit and vegetables which were not sold, the surplus”, he underlined, stressing that ” in these first two editions, Câmara de Leiria bought 53 tonnes of products. horticultural products to be distributed to these 19 IPSS, avoiding destruction and helping residents in difficulty ”.
Believing that “2021 will be a socially and economically very difficult year”, Catarina Louro added that the municipality “is evaluating other projects with the same objectives as“ Terra Alimenta Leiria ””.
https://thetrustedchronicle.com/