FICRT Foundation donates 7.8 tonnes of food to families at risk of exclusion

Solidarity and empathy. Two terms that more than words encompass direct actions that have a direct impact on the daily development of people's lives. In an increasingly fast-paced society in which we have become accustomed to living fast, consuming incessantly and not valuing what we have, always wanting more, it seems that these words slip quietly through our daily lives without making much noise.

In the course of our often hectic days, it is difficult to make an observation of our social environment and the reality is that, as has been the case since the birth of societies, inequality exists and it is necessary to take action to bring about equality of conditions, even if we receive nothing in return. In this sense, and specifically in Spain, according to data on the State of Poverty in Spain (AROPE), 26.1% of the population is at risk of poverty or social exclusion. To this figure must be added the ravages caused by the pandemic in the economic sphere of many families who in some cases have not been able to support themselves if it were not for solidarity and selfless giving. 

In this regard, the Foundation for Islamic Culture and Religious Tolerance (FICRT) has taken an active role in donating food to families at risk of poverty and exclusion. In the month of May alone, the FICRT donated 8 tonnes of food to different foundations in collaboration with the food bank to try to alleviate the dramatic situation in which many people find themselves. The Foundation has made several donations in cities such as Granada, Cordoba and Madrid. In the latter city, the FICRT has collaborated with foundations such as San Juan del Castillo and Panes y Peces, founded by the Jesuit Javier Rapullés, by donating 2,600 kilos of food. Thus, the total aid provided by the FICRT Foundation amounts to around 7.8 tonnes of food, distributed throughout these three cities.

According to the director of the Fundación Pan y Peces, Rocío Redondo Delgado, "thanks to the generosity of companies, associations, foundations, partners, collaborators and volunteers, the Fundación Pan y Peces manages to deliver a trolley with food, cleaning and personal hygiene products to more than 2,500 people every month". The Bread and Fish Foundation donates a "monthly trolley" to each family with the food and utensils necessary for day-to-day life. Each one of them is designed in a precise way, attending to the needs of each family and its components.

On the other hand, and in the words of the president of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, Mr. Alfred G. Kavanagh, "in the midst of the pain and suffering caused by the virus, there is also a space for hope that grows every day through the unity of citizens in adversity and in the generosity of so many people who collaborate in solidarity initiatives such as this one".

In addition to this, the particularity of this Foundation is the exercise of cohesion and union that it maintains between different religious communities, since for them the aim is to help people. According to the president, FICRT "is a cultural foundation that therefore relates to communities and people of any religion. We have projects and programmes with Muslim associations, Evangelical associations, contacts with Buddhist communities...".

In this respect, Kavanagh reminds us that the Foundation is based on two pillars: "culture, which is fundamental for understanding others, and tolerance. In this line, FICRT seeks to create a dialogue and build bridges between the communities so that they can get to know each other. Thus, the two pillars promoted by the Foundation are supported by fraternity, as they consider that "fraternity is essential in a fragmented and materialistic society, so our aim is to create a network of associations of people who work so that we can get to know others and overcome our prejudices", taking as a basis the document for human fraternity signed by Pope Francis and the Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed al-Tayeb.

In addition to making food donations, FICRT aims to "promote the value of religious tolerance among people of all cultures and religions, and to encourage best practices in coexistence, sustainable development, cooperation, solidarity, respect for values and cultural diversity" as well as working on multiculturalism and education. Kavanagh says that "the idea is to try to make sure that every week we can do a concrete activity to connect with people. An example of this are the free courses related to Islamic diplomacy or the Arabic courses that would be aimed at people without resources so that they can study and get to know different realities.

Initiatives such as those carried out by FICRT are necessary and important for the reality in which we live. According to the Spanish Food Bank Federation, the demand for food in its centres has increased by 50% since the beginning of the pandemic. These figures have surpassed the figures of the economic crisis itself, which took place between 2008-2009. This new crisis is a dramatic reality that, thanks to the solidarity and projects carried out by this type of foundation, has considerably reduced the social impact of the crisis and has radically transformed the way of life of many families who could not sustain themselves without solidarity.