Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Milan, May 17 2020 – The project launched by the Jesurum Social Energies Association last March to support vulnerable citizens during the socio-health emergency, thanks to free home delivery services - for shopping and pet products - and dog sitting, the latter in Municipalities 1 , 3 and 4, was strengthened thanks to the further solidarity contribution of the initiative's partner companies.

"Thanks to Social energies Jesurum for the renewed commitment within the network, Milan helps - declare the councilors Roberta Guaineri and Gabriele Rabaiotti -. A commitment further strengthened thanks to the collaboration with the many entities that have decided to offer their contribution. We are certain that thanks to these precious forms of solidarity towards the most vulnerable groups, Milan will best face this difficult moment for the entire community." 

Thanks to donations from Mars Petcare and Royal Canin, free meals will be offered for dogs and cats: the first of 4 tons of supplies are arriving, to cover the next three months. AniCura, a network of clinics specializing in the health and well-being of our animals, will support the logistical costs for the distribution of donated meals and, if necessary, also veterinary transport for all those animals whose owners are unable to move.
The new services will be dedicated primarily to homeless people and ERP tenants of municipalities 1, 5, 6 and 8, in collaboration with the Department of Social and Housing Policies and the Department of Tourism, Sport and Quality of Life, with delegation to policies for the protection and defense of animals. Furthermore, citizens in particularly fragile conditions will be able to access the service directly by calling 0282396867, the telephone line active from Monday to Saturday, from 9 to 30. The free distribution of pet food is also made possible by the collaboration of Circolo Acli Terre e Libertà in via Don Bosco 12 which has made its warehouse and volunteers available for the activity of assembling parcels for delivery.

“The current emergency situation teaches us how empathy is an asset to be exercised on a daily basis. In particular, empathy towards the weakest, even of other species, which the silence and isolation of these days leads us to observe more than before. The 'Never alone, if you stay at home' project is also a great exercise in empathy that invites us to multiply it in our daily actions - say Paola Fossati and Gustavo Gandini, Animal Ombudsmen for the Municipality of Milan. 

In recent days, 'Never alone, if you stay at home' has started the distribution of hundreds of food parcels with which concrete support has been given to many, as Michela Jesurum, founder of the Jesurum Social Energies Association, explains: “Offering to many food aid and the possibility of being able to take care of one's pets represents a further step forward, taken together. We are aware of how difficult this moment is for many and this is why, together with partners who share this mission with us, we want to offer them our commitment and dedication."

The initiative that brings food aid to citizens in difficulty is also made possible by the synergy with multiple entities: City Angels Onlus; NoWalls; Aida Partners; Retake Milano and MilanoSport which allowed the use and management - with Retake Milano volunteers - of a space at the Lido Sports Centre; Lombardy Food Bank Association "Danilo Fossati" ONLUS; Barilla G. e R. F.lli S.p.A.; Candia Italia SpA; Coop Lombardia; Salov; Repower Italia SpA.