When it comes to helping others, it is always necessary to lend a hand and build support networks, especially for those going through difficult times or situations they cannot resolve on their own. With this aim in mind, Soroptimist International Costa del Sol has made a food donation intended for families in the municipality via the Mijas Food Bank, run by the Mijas Red Cross, and the Nueva Cultura del Desarrollo Association.

The organisation has been collaborating with food banks in Mijas for over fifteen years. While this aid was traditionally provided at Christmas, this year Soroptimist wanted to extend its support to the summer period. The donation, worth 2,950 includes basic items such as sunflower oil, macaroni, rice and chickpeas, selected according to the families’ needs.

The organisation emphasises the importance of finding out first-hand which products the families need most. “These are very basic foods, but we always consult the food banks to find out what their needs are, and these are the products they have indicated are really needed”, explained Anette Skou, a member of Soroptimist Costa del Sol. 

Additional aid 

Sonia Hernández, a volunteer representative for Mijas Red Cross, explained that there is a wide variety of profiles among the families supported.  “We have all kinds of families: with several children, single people, couples…”, she noted. She also pointed out that “many are unemployed or in precarious jobs whose income is insufficient to cover basic expenses such as rent, electricity or water”. Hernández emphasised that Soroptimist’s donation complements the food that the Red Cross regularly receives from stores such as Mercadona and Hipercor, mainly fresh produce close to its expiration date. However, basic non-perishable foods are harder to come by, which is why this contribution is particularly important to complete the food parcels intended for families.

For his part, Miguel Ángel Lozano, a volunteer with the Nueva Cultura del Desarrollo Association, expressed his gratitude for Soroptimist’s support. “We are extremely grateful, because every year Soroptimist donates products that we really need. It’s a very important donation”, he said. Nueva Cultura explains that they currently support 220 families and that one of their main challenges is ensuring an even distribution of food.

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