"During a delivery I happened to see two families, made up of seven adults and five children, living together in a basement. They worked in the home services sector and lost their jobs during the lockdown. They managed to get by on their savings for the first month. Then they had to ask for help. Like them, so many others," says Marco Latrecchina, coordinator of the "Nessuno Escluso. Neanche chi ora è in difficoltà" project run by Emergency in Milan.

While the health emergency appears to be moving towards its final phase, the social crisis it has generated is only now emerging in full force. For this reason Emergency, an organisation focused mainly on health-related projects, has decided to launch a free distribution service for food parcels and essential goods to address the new poverty caused by the pandemic.

The Nessuno Escluso. Neanche chi ora è in difficoltà project is active in the cities of Milan and Rome and is aimed at anyone living in a state of precariousness: large family units, elderly people, but also young service-sector workers and those in precarious or irregular employment. People who, until February, were staying just above the poverty line and who suddenly, during the most acute phase of the pandemic, found themselves with no income whatsoever.

According to a recent analysis by Coldiretti, from the first case to emerge in Codogno in February up to the present day, in Italy the number of people forced to seek food aid in order to survive is around 1 million, representing a 40 per cent increase in requests.

In Milan, Emergency volunteers began to grasp the gravity of the situation during Phase 1, after the organisation joined the Milano Aiuta project by delivering groceries and medicines to the most vulnerable. "This reality of the so-called new poor gradually came to light," explains Latrecchina. "It happened that some people seeking help came to our Milan office: people who were often embarrassed because they had never been in the position of having to ask for anything. That was when we understood we had to act, to do something immediately."

Anyone experiencing financial hardship as a result of Covid-19 can therefore call 02 86316890 to get through to the switchboard managed by Emergency and submit a request for help. Each family unit is listened to by volunteers who gather the information needed to tailor the parcels to individual requirements. Emergency then takes the families into its care for a period of one month, at the end of which the beneficiaries' situation is reassessed. If the state of need persists, the family will continue to receive the necessary support.

From flour to pasta, from tomatoes to milk: thanks to the tireless work of volunteers and the companies that have come on board by donating their products, the families who have requested and continue to request the support of Nessuno Escluso receive a weekly food parcel, supplemented by a monthly delivery of household cleaning and personal hygiene products.

To date, almost 3,000 parcels have been delivered in Milan alone. "We designed an essential basket but we also want it to be a parcel of dignity," explains Latrecchina. "That's why we try to include non-strictly-essential items too, such as yeast and everything needed to make cakes. Unfortunately we cannot predict when this emergency will end; the project will certainly remain active for the next six months and during that time we will do our best to provide a concrete response to those who ask us for help. Then we hope it will no longer be needed."