Rotary Club Morimondo Abbey

[Article by Silvia Lodi Pasini published in "Settegiorni"]  – A solidarity network between traders and citizens to guarantee a hot meal to those who cannot afford it. We are talking about "Pasto Sospeso Navigli": a project never before carried out in the Lion City, but above all a reality expanded beyond the border, which extends as far as Vigevano and Lomellina. Making this territorial extension possible, involving two provinces, Milan and Pavia, is Rotary, i.e. the four clubs that out of six of the Sforzesco Group have joined the initiative and two Rotaracts: Rotary Morimondo Abbazia, Rotary Lomellina, Rotary Vigevano Castello and Rotary Vigevano Mortara, Rotaract Abbiategrasso Rotaract Morimondo. “The name “Navigli” given to the project was chosen for an evocative function, as a reference to the territory – explain the president of Morimondo, Martina Forti, and her counterpart from the Rac, Carlotta Varchi – “It is a solidarity project which concerns the territory of Abbiategrasso, Vigevano and Lomellina and which is inspired by similar initiatives, already successfully activated in numerous Italian and Swiss cities, on the basis of the Neapolitan coffee tradition suspended". The objective is to concretely support people in difficulty, creating a widespread solidarity network between citizens, merchants and local entities. Promoted by Rotary and Rotaract, the project is sponsored by Confcommercio Abbiategrasso and ASCOM Confcommercio Pavia, which support the initiative in disseminating it among merchants and in involving the commercial network of the territory. The Suspended Meal model has already been successfully tested in numerous Italian areas, including Monza, Cremona, Lodi and recently Pavia, where dozens of commercial businesses have joined, contributing to the collection of funds for local canteens and charitable organisations. The project is very simple: in participating shops and businesses, customers can purchase solidarity vouchers of 2 or 5 euros, thus helping to finance food assistance activities and support for people in need. The vouchers can be purchased at any type of shop or commercial activity participating in the initiative - bars, restaurants, neighborhood shops, artisan businesses and other sales points in the area - which will display an identifying window sticker and a display with solidarity coupons. In addition to the classic form of cash, it will also be possible to contribute to the initiative and collect your solidarity voucher also via digital payments (e.g. Paypal). "It is important to underline that the meals will not be provided directly in participating restaurants or shops - points out the past president and now assistant to the Gorvenatore, Davide Carnevali -. The points of sale will act exclusively as solidarity collection points, helping to create a territorial support network". 100% of the proceeds will be allocated to local entities that deal with primary care: in Abbiategrasso Il Portico della Solidarietà, in Vigevano and Lomellina, however, Caritas. All participating businesses will also be promoted through: the project's official website http://www.pastosospesonavigli.it, the social channels of the initiative and the communication and local press activities. "In recent weeks we have been involving shops and commercial activities in the area to build an ever-wider solidarity network. The objective is to create a participatory and widespread initiative, where a small daily gesture - a donation of a few euros - can contribute to concretely helping those who live in fragile situations". Merchants interested in joining can find more information on the project website: http://www.pastosospesonavigli.it.
Silvia Lodi Pasini