For Christmas CLAI is a chain of goodness: 200,000 meals donated to those in need thanks to the Food Bank network

For CLAI, Cooperativa Lavoratori Agricoli Imolesi, another Christmas under the banner of solidarity and sharing is on the horizon. In fact, for the third year in a row, the fruitful "twinning" with Banco Alimentare (which is declined through multiple charitable initiatives) has been further enhanced to distribute food amounting to 200,000* free meals to people in need throughout Italy through the affiliated charitable facilities.

And more and more families are unfortunately experiencing situations of real economic and social hardship. From the beginning of the year to date as many as 85,000 more people than last year -- to a total of nearly 1,750,000 -- have turned to one of the 7,600 charitable facilities that are supported by Banco Alimentare in every region of the country.

"Despite the fact that we are always working hard, at CLAI we often reflect on what initiatives could prove most useful in donating moments of relief to as many people as possible - underlines Giovanni Bettini, President CLAI -. In view of the end-of-year festivities, we have therefore decided to renew a collaboration that has always yielded excellent results, thanks also to the strength and capillarity of the network built by Banco Alimentare, which manages to make the most of the commitment that our cooperative joyfully makes available. Solidarity needs those who know how to make concrete gestures."

And the symbol of the commitment put forth by CLAI, an agricultural cooperative that operates in agribusiness in both the cured meats sector, with a particular specialization in the salami segment, and in fresh beef and pork, will be represented by a ball, available in several colors and containing different messages, that will serve to embellish the Christmas trees of many families, reminding them of the value of solidarity. CLAI In fact, it will donate these balls to its trade customers, who in turn will distribute them to their own customers, and so on throughout the trade chain. Thousands of consumers, through the CLAI Banco Alimentare ball, will thus be able to ideally participate in the value of the initiative, transforming it into a valuable chain of goodness. "The same goodness - continues the President CLAI - that we transfer every day inside the products CLAI following unwavering and for us fundamental principles that tell a lot about the identity and values of a true cooperative such as ours, such as the expertise that is handed down from generation to generation, the exclusive use of 100% Italian meat, the attention to the supply chain from the fields to the table, the continuous search for quality and human and environmental sustainability. In our Food company, which also involves the Zuarina and La Faggiola brands, we are convinced that showing care for the good of others is the tastiest gift we can give ourselves."

"This small but important gift is a concrete testimony of attention to the person, which is so necessary in particularly precarious times like the present - adds Gianfranco Delfini, Marketing Director CLAI -. We like to think of it as a sort of "relay race," in which the value of solidarity is transferred, through a ball, from hand to hand. CLAI stands at the top of this pyramid of positive contamination that expands at every step, from trade customers to families doing the shopping for their loved ones. A great sharing and involvement operation that is unique and whose high symbolic value best represents the identity and value system of our cooperative."

"We are happy that CLAI has once again chosen Banco Alimentare as its charity partner for its Christmas campaign ," says Giovanni Bruno, President of Fondazione Banco Alimentare ONLUS, "probably the most important of the year. Especially at a time like the present, marked by a deep economic and social crisis, we need faithful and reliable partners with whom we can share our constant commitment to support those in need. Our goal has always been to restore confidence and hope to the less fortunate, and we can only achieve this by teaming up with those who really get involved with us and stay close to us."

The human sustainability mentioned by President Bettini and Marketing Director Delfini is declined in multiple initiatives, both internal and external to the company, which always putthe person, with his needs and dreams, at the center of attention . A recent example of this is also the collaboration with the Foundation ANT Italia Onlus, an association that provides specialized medical assistance at home to cancer patients, with which over the years prevention paths aimed at employees have been activated. And it was precisely ANT that last September received the Premio 100% Italiano, the coveted award from CLAI, which is given to those who have distinguished themselves for their commitment to promoting culture, work and solidarity.

For CLAI there is no one-size-fits-all way of reaching out to others, whether near or far. Recalling initiatives more closely related to the territory, one can refer to the understanding born with Together with you, the wonderful voluntary association of Faenza that helps people with severe disabilities to realize the dream of spending time at the beach letting themselves be enveloped by the "caresses" of the sea and sand. And also the decision of to donate an ambulance last March to the 118 Territorial Emergency Service of the Imola Ausl, to celebrate its first 60 years of existence in the best way possible and as a sign of CLAI 's belonging to its community.

* One equivalent meal corresponds to 500 g. of food according to LARNs (Reference Intake Levels of Nutrients and Energy for the Italian population).