Just about any problem can and should be dealt with, particularly when we become involved and commit ourselves to the task. It was with this idea in mind that Isabel Jonet, president of Banco Alimentar, and her team, created the Emergency Food Network (REA by its acronym in Portuguese).
The need for social confinement as a means of containing Covid-19 led to the government declaring a state of emergency. Subsequently, a great many institutions of social solidarity have significantly reduced their activity or closed their doors, which has affected all the work carried out at kindergartens, nurseries, leisure time activity centres and day centres, among others. All of this has resulted in many Portuguese people losing the assistance these organisations were providing them with. Solutions needed to be created to meet their needs, in addition to those of people who have lost all or part of their income due to the crisis
Entrajuda, an institution created through Banco Alimentar, came up with the idea of the Emergency Food Network initiative to encourage institutions that are still operating and local authorities to join forces with the aim of providing those most in need with food. “The people that work at these institutions are familiar with the region and the local population, and know exactly what they need”, says Isabel Jonet, adding that this was the best way of getting people to work together to create this network.
All applications for the provision of assistance or volunteer work at the Emergency Food Network must be made online, via the website, which can also be accessed from the Banco Alimentar and Bolsa de Voluntariado websites.
THE PROMOTION OF PROXIMITY
According to Isabel Jonet, the network has provided assistance for elderly people with no access to the internet in filling out the online form. However, many have had to rely on friends, relatives and even parish councils to do this. In addition to any individual undergoing difficulties, institutions with food collection points can also use the network. “What we do is to refer each specific situation to an institution close to the person's home, to promote proximity and to avoid travelling”, she explains. She also stresses that the method helps prevent duplications and fraud.
The network covers the entire country, including the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira, and is based at regional food banks and the entities replacing them in regions that aren't covered.