Fiesta food fund

THE MOORS and Christians fiesta association in Elche has collected 4,000 kilos of food for vulnerable families with its campaign ‘Kilos de fiesta’.

This month-long initiative ended on Tuesday, when association president Julián Fernández was joined by the councillors for fiestas, Mariola Galiana and social services, Mariano Valera, and the DYA association food bank coordinator, Antonio Tarí.

Sra Galiana said she was proud to see the charitable spirit at Elche’s ‘big fiesta family’ had shown.

We are thankful for the humanitarian and charitable talent of so many fiesta participants, businesses and residents who, during the pandemic have done their best to help those who are suffering most from the effects of the health crisis.

These 4,000kg are in addition to 75,000kg already handed out by the food bank, which was set up by city hall and DYA, over the last three months to help 1,950 families get through the social emergency caused by Covid-19.

The food bank, located at the DYA headquarters in Altabix, has helped 4,385 families, helped to get 8,378 applications for aid approved, and invested €1.2 million in food and hygiene, €282,607 in aid to help pay for utility supplies, and €57,800 in aid to pay rent.

City hall’s total investment in emergency social care during the pandemic is €1.7 million so far, including €360,365 on 7,207 food vouchers since March 14.

“The social emergency telephone line has not stopped ringing throughout the state of emergency period,” assured Sra Valera.