Ever since the global lockdown, visuals of Italian unity and positivity has come to the forefront. Whether it is singing it out in the evenings, or dancing together in their respective balconies, a glimpse of the Italian way of dealing with a crisis is gaining recognition world over. Adding to this list of accolades is their newest move: hanging food from their balconies for those in need to consume. By Bayar Jain
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With the global lockdown, news of people stocking up on supplies and essentials have made headlines. On one end, grocery stores have started running dry, while on the other the nation-wide shortage of toilet paper has left some countries in an induced panic. It is during times like these, societies have started to take note of the disparities and stepped up to those in need. One such novel example is of the Italians. During these tough times, people in Naples have started to leave out baskets of food in their balconies for the poor and homeless to feed on.
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Termed as “support baskets” by social media, the initiative first set sail in a single street of the country. This trend, however, soon caught on and many other places in the country soon joined the bandwagon. As per Twitter, the actual Italian name is Panaro solidale: panaro is the basket where you put the bread inside, and solidale means “solidarity”. These baskets are often accompanied with a sign that says, “If you can, put something inside. If you can’t, take something.”
While the same isn’t being replicated in India, similar activities have sprung up in various parts of the country. Several non-governmental organisations, social outfits and good Samaritans have stepped up to help ease the burden. After all, every bit of help counts right now.
Related: This Is How Italy Is Keeping Positive During Coronavirus, And What We Can Learn Too!
Written By
Bayar Jain
Senior Content ManagerEquipped with a degree in Sociology (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a postgraduate diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, Bayar enjoys sharing stories of people, places, and different cultures. When not typing her travel tales, you can catch the hobbyist photographer capturing ..Read More
