The
community of Sant Egidio just made an alarming diagnosis in the
presentation of a new guide, in which it summarized all the resources in
the city destined to the homeless people (www.santegidio.org)
to which anybody who wishes to can lend a helping hand, by informing
the precise locations to those who need them, or for the organization to
reach where someone needs help. This guide informs that in Barcelona a
maximum of 1,274 meals are served daily to the homeless and indigenous,
and there are 740 beds where they can wash and sleep in this city.
Destitution has greatly increased (doubled in the last 6 months). There are young people too, and the not so young, who had till recently earned a living working, not always been vagabonds. They are in the streets as consequence of the present day crisis. Many are foreigners. Adding to them one has to count the ones that fall into the category of 'invisible poverty' - people who have a home but living in minimum conditions due to the scarcity or meagre pension, or depending solely on social subsidise. The majority of these are old people, whose necessity increases in direct proportion to their increasing age and dependency. In Roses, there are at least 2 days a year that I am aware of, which are dedicated to the aged and the mentally handicapped. They are served a wonderful meal in nice hotels or other designated restaurants, with volunteers serving, and entertainment like a band playing music and even for dancing after lunch. This would not solve their day to day problems, but at least, for just one day, they know they have not been totally forgotten and for this one day, they can meet up with many others in the same circumstances, to laugh and chat a little, and to forget about obligations and chores briefly. Very often, to feed the heart is even more important than feeding the stomach. |
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Accomplished
Accomplished
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