The town hall of Torrevieja has approved a further investment of €780,000 for food parcels for families in need in the town.
Back in May 2020, emergency contracts were drawn up to allow the purchase of essential food and hygiene items for the town’s most vulnerable families. The first investment of €764,790 saw direct aid being offered to people at risk of social exclusion. The latest approval of a further investment of €780,192 brings the total investment in helping the town’s poorest citizens to €1,544,982.
Councillor for NGOs and Volunteering, Concha Sala explained that the contract for providing food parcels will run until the end of the State of Alarm in Spain, that is, until May 9th 2021, or until any extensions to that date are determined.
Currently, the town’s three main food banks are able to distribute, according to weekly demand, up to a maximum of 1,000 food parcels every two weeks (feeding approximately 3,000 people), estimating a maximum of 12,000 parcels to be delivered throughout the duration of this new emergency contract.
Councillor Sala explained that the food parcels include non-perishable food, fresh products, personal hygiene and cleaning items, fruits and vegetables and bakery products. The distribution and delivery of the parcels is managed with the collaboration of volunteers from Alimentos Solidarios Torrevieja, the local branch of the Cruz Roja and Cáritas de la Parroquia de San Pedro y San Pablo.
The town hall, the food banks and charities, and the social welfare department specifically, are constantly evaluating the situation of a number of families that due to their employment status and other factors do not receive any other financial aid.
Finally, Councillor Sala highlighted the economic effort being made by Torrevieja City Council, as well as the great work being carried out by both the technicians and workers of the Department of Social Welfare and the volunteers of Cruz Roja, Cáritas and Alimentos Solidarios.