An important update on the projects for the common good was presented yesterday in the Celesti Hall of the Municipality of Lonato del Garda. During the meeting, the local administration illustrated the initiatives active in the area, including the project “Sportello di Solidarietà Sociale” (Social Solidarity Desk), which was established in 2020 in response to the economic effects of the pandemic.
The “Sportello di Solidarietà Sociale” project aims to provide concrete support to families and individuals most affected by the economic crisis resulting from the Covid-19 emergency. Originally known as “Sportello Alimentare Solidale” (Solidarity Food Counter), this service guarantees access to food and essential goods. Among the partners involved are the Villaregia Missionary Community, the Parish of Natività di San Giovanni Battista, the San Vincenzo De Paoli and ANTEAS Brescia ODV Associations, the Inter-municipal Civil Protection Volunteers Group of Lonato del Garda and Bedizzole, as well as the Maremosso ODV ETS Association.
Currently, the Desk supports around 80 households in Lonato del Garda who have been identified by the Social Services. The distribution of food packages takes place every Saturday from 08:30 to 10:30 at the Villaregia Missionary Community. This is made possible thanks to the constant commitment of the volunteers involved in the “Restart – Sua eccedenza il cibo” (Restart – Its excess food) project. This project involves young people between the ages of 16 and 25 in the recovery and weekly redistribution of food surpluses from local retailers.
The role of volunteers is crucial for the success of the Desk’s activities. In this context, collaboration agreements represent a fundamental tool for mobilizing human resources dedicated to the care, regeneration, and shared management of common goods. Interested citizens can enter into an agreement to become active promoters of the importance of caring for their city.
In addition to the “Sportello di Solidarietà Sociale,” there are other significant initiatives in Lonato del Garda. One example is a citizen who provides support to educators in carrying out after-school activities at “Spazio +” (Space Plus).
During the meeting, several representatives of the associations involved in the projects spoke. Dr. Michele Crescini introduced the topic of collaboration agreements; Laura Pasinetti from the Maremosso Association delved into the association’s role in the Desk; and Francesca Conchieri, Cauto representative for social projects in the Garda area, spoke about the “Binario 1534” project, funded by the regional call “La Lombardia è dei giovani 2023” (Lombardy belongs to young people 2023), which aims to connect municipal services with the territory through various initiatives aimed at young people.
“Lonato is fortunate to have numerous Volunteer Associations that operate with passion and enthusiasm in various sectors,” commented Nicola Bianchi, Councilor for Social Services. “The meeting was a precious moment to thank these associations for their daily commitment to our community and propose the possibility of signing a ‘collaboration agreement’ with the Municipality.”
You can find the collaboration agreement presentation document [here](https://www.gardanotizie.it/app/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Patto-di-Collaborazione_presentazione_20062024.pdf).
Italian Version
