At first glance, it certainly is not very different from a normal supermarket: the spaces and furnishings are the same as those of any traditional store and on the shelves in plain sight basic necessities, food or personal hygiene products. Still, Emporio Portobello is a special place. Because? Simple: it is a supermarket for the unemployed and families in financial difficulty.
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous
At first sight, it won't look much different from a normal supermarket: spaces and furnishings identical to those of any traditional point of sale and on the shelves in plain sight basic necessities, food or personal hygiene products. Nevertheless, Emporio Portobello is a special place. Because? Simple: it is a supermarket for unemployed and families in economic difficulty.
Here, in fact, the price is not indicated in euros, but in points. “Each family has a points card with which it is possible to“ go shopping ”. The card is recharged monthly based on the family unit, after selecting access with evaluation of the ISEE and paying particular attention to large families. The card is available to the family for a limited time (a few months) and, if family conditions improve, it will be sold to other families in the ranking. Otherwise, the card can be renewed ”, reads the website of the anti-crisis initiative, coordinated by the Modena Volunteer Services Association.
In short, more than a supermarket, a "social emporium", born with at least three main objectives: to be a place as respectful as possible of the dignity of people, for the collection and distribution of basic necessities, networking the different subjects who are already working to fight poverty through a community project e involve the territory, businesses, citizens who with their free work, economic donations or products without which one could not go forward will be able to support the project.
But is it really all free? Not really: since the password is "dignity ", and not" charity ", the 450 nuclei in difficulty to which the service is addressed, chosen in collaboration with the social services, will have to offer in exchange help with their I work as a volunteer at least once a week. Just like it happened in the People Supermarket in London. “We strongly believe in this project - says Morselli - and we want to keep the size of the purchase, no one gives anything, but we involve people in a specific project. We we want to make a pact with the users that we will welcome in our premises. There are conditions and it will be essential for all parties to respect them ”, Angelo Morselli, president of the Center for Volunteering, explained to the press.
Roberta Ragni
Read also:
- People's Supermarket: a new supermarket model, made by people for people
