It is written just like that, outside the gate of the Garibaldi school in Rome where a solidarity civic collection is still in progress. And so it was written until a few days ago on a basket suspended in an alley, dropped from a balcony, in Naples. And who knows in what other corners of Italy. "Who can put, who can not take." Seven only words, like notes, that sing the beautiful and resolute and stubborn spirit of our country.
During the quarantine period, an unprecedented sense of kindness mixed with sincere empathy developed in the country. The lockdown put us to the test. Physically distant but closer. Above all solidarity. With those who are in serious economic conditions or psychologically fragile. In recent months there have been numerous initiatives solidarity activated in the national territory - beyond the fundraising promoted by the Italian Red Cross and Civil Protection (always distinguished by their inexhaustible work in an emergency situation).
In fact, an efficient "proximity network ”, a sort of human aid chain that was activated spontaneously and involved both small and larger towns. Unions of ordinary citizens. From those who dropped baskets from the terraces of Naples to those who gave life to neighborhood collections in schools. Multiple initiatives, all of them born from below. That is very widespread of the "Solidarity condominiums" for example, where shopping is taken to the elderly who cannot go out, one goes to the pharmacy and, if necessary, queues at the post office in their stead. In many neighborhoods, not only in schools but also near individual shops, stalls are arranged where basic necessities are left to be allocated to needy families. 'Who can put up, who can't take': this is precisely the leitmotif of these small, great spontaneous mobilizations. Testimony of a great civic sense. The ferment in Italy from voluntary associations, very active in this period. Ordinary people committed in the territory to offer support to those who, due to the emergency, found themselves disarmed, or alone, or without work.
It is estimated that compared to March, in April 2020 the trends solid increased thirtyfold. Many associations have had to cope with needs that have actually tripled. The Roman is an example Nonna Pink, active for years on the outskirts of the capital in support of destitute citizens at risk of marginalization: in the large basement room in Via Prenestina 286, for about a month the families to be hosted have multiplied. The Mutual aid bank of the association, in the last weekend of April, distributed 1096 packs, for 2718 families. There are almost ten thousand people to whom this aid has been addressed. Thanks to many other families, very common, who gave meaning and substance to the collection. They, ordinary people, who are the true meaning and substance of Italian solidarity.
Civic initiatives naturally also run on social networks. The idea of. Was born in Rome and grew throughout Italy Valentina Salerno: "A call a smile". Valentina has decided to offer "emotional assistance”To all those people, above all the elderly, who feel left out in the absence of contact with their families. Thanks to his initiative, today an elderly person receives a phone call from 'his' personal volunteer every day. An everyday and recognizable voice that becomes a family. A precious call, to be heard. Sixty pairs of friends have already been born, hundreds of thousands of words of comfort. A simple idea after all, and for that very reason extraordinary.