Spazio Solidale Vidas is born in Milan — a place open to all citizens, designed to bring people, objects and the value of care together.

In via Belfiore 7, Milan, a place has been created to connect people, objects and the value of care: it is Spazio Solidale Vidas, a space open to the entire community where every everyday gesture can become concrete support.

Here, shopping becomes a conscious act. Among clothing, household items and unique pieces donated by companies and private individuals, every purchase is transformed into care for children and adults with incurable illnesses, assisted free of charge every day by Vidas.

The space grows out of the previous Christmas Shop with a clear goal: to create a meeting point between the community and Vidas's mission, accessible throughout the year. Spazio Solidale is open to anyone who wants to come in, browse, shop or simply stop to better understand what it means to care for others.

Making all of this possible is the commitment of around 50 volunteers who, on a rotating basis, welcome visitors, share the stories behind the displayed objects and convey the deeper meaning of the project. It is precisely this relational dimension that sets the space apart from a traditional shop: every object carries a story, and every encounter becomes an opportunity for listening.

Spazio Solidale Vidas opened on 20 March, in time for Easter — on the shelves you will find colomba cakes and chocolate eggs from the artisan pastry shop T'à Milano — and will remain open until 15 June (before reopening after the summer), Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 7pm.

Behind many of the objects in Spazio Solidale lie personal stories, family bonds, and journeys through illness and care. Some of these objects come from people who have encountered Vidas and choose to give back, in a tangible form, what they themselves received.

Among them is Marta Cremonesi, who describes her encounter with the organisation as a moment of profound turning point: "I discovered Vidas by chance — I hadn't known about it before. My father had two conditions, one of which was oncological, and it seemed like there was nothing more that could be done." Before reaching palliative care, Marta describes an experience marked by loneliness and hardship: "Every day brought a new negative surprise: uncertainties, respiratory crises, rushed trips to A&E where we would wait up to 14 hours without him being able to eat or be cared for with dignity."

The encounter with Vidas radically changes the situation: "They lifted an incredible weight of anxiety from me at a time when I had sunk into depression. Vidas didn't just give me medical assistance — it gave me the time and the peace of mind to live wonderful moments with my father."

Today, Marta wants that story to live on: "I decided to donate some precious objects to the Space because in this way I can help support all the families going through these moments of vulnerability. It's not about how long you live, but how you live — and the psychological and social support you provide is essential."

It is also thanks to gestures like this that Spazio Solidale comes to life, transforming personal experiences into collective support.

Spazio Solidale Vidas is not just a place to purchase objects: it is a space in which to connect with an organisation that for over forty years has been caring for the most vulnerable people, defending the right to live with dignity even in the final phase of life. Visiting this space means contributing, but also learning, finding out more, and feeling part of a wider network.

A simple invitation, extended to everyone: come in, look around and discover that even a small gesture can have real, tangible value.

Spazio Solidale Vidas reopened to the public on 20 March at via Belfiore 7, Milan.

It is easily reachable by public transport and by car.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 19:00.