The Caritas Emporium ‘solidarity supermarket’ aims at helping local families in financial difficulty by giving them help and support and is a concrete example of values such as solidarity and unbiased support.
What is it?
It is a place where prime necessity products can be ‘purchased’ to ‘meet family needs’. These products are distributed free of charge to families and individuals in situations of temporary economic difficulty. The Emporium is in appearance like any supermarket, with shelves and freezers. It contains a wide range of products ranging from olive oil to detergents to cosmetics.
Who can access the Caritas Emporium?
Families and individuals in economic difficulty can obtain access by applying to the Municipal Social Services, Caritas help centres - whether diocese or parish, from the Saint Vincent de Paul Centre or the Aiuto alla Vita centre
How can one ‘buy’ from the Emporium?
The goods are distributed free of charge on the basis of credit allocated previously through a points system using an electronic card.
The card is magnetic, bears a photo of the holder and is available at the Emporium when presenting an authorisation issued by the organisation which has applied on behalf of the family.
The card has a maximum of 75 points per month, based on the size of the family, and can be requested for up to 3 months (6 months in the case of pensioners with the minimum pension). At the end of the first 3 months it is possible to apply for renewal but after that, access to the service will be interrupted.
Promoters and participants in the project
The promoters of this project are: Caritas, Prato Diocese, Province of Prato, Comune di Prato, Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio.
Other organisations taking part in the project: Comune di Prato, Caritas, Saint Vincent de Paul, Volontarie Vincenziane e Centro Aiuto alla Vita.
The Emporium is managed by the Solidarietà Caritas Onlus.
