Casa Caridad explain how contribution from Valencia CF helps with #Coronavida

Casa Caridad Valencia president, Luis Miralles, and Managing Director, Guadalupe Ferrer, spoke about the #CoronaVida initiative that has received a donation from Valencia CF, the VCF Foundation and the first team squad.

What the contribution means to Casa Caridad Valencia

“For Casa Caridad it gave us great joy. It’s a big thing for an institution like Valencia CF, led by the first team and supported by the VCF Foundation, to have chosen us for this initiative. We have always had the club’s support throughout both of our histories, stretching back over 100 years. In these tough times, it’s fundamental that a sports club of such global importance supports those most in need in their city. It gives great visibility to our work and leads to more collaborations.”

The reaction to the initiative

“People like these actions very much. It’s good to see how society gets behind us. When these times come around, the people most in need are there, and society responds to them. On an internal level, those who we help are enormously grateful for the support that institutions like Valencia CF are giving to make them visible too, and for the fact that the resources gathered in this campaign will allow Casa Caridad to continue helping those most in need. On an external level, we have received a multitude of support from people in our region and beyond. It’s an initiative that shows people’s most charitable side.”

Future help

“The consequences of this situation are going to last. It will be very necessary for people to help, both now and in the future. Of the 150 families that we attend in infants schools, over 25 members have lost their jobs -and the situation is only going to worsen.”

“At such an exceptional time, it’s fundamental for people to know that there are families and children with no resources who need our charity. They shouldn’t be the forgotten members of society. In these exceptional times, people’s solidarity is most important.”  

Where the #CoronaVida resources go

“The contribution that we receive will allow us to continue offering basic services that people without homes need, such as food and accommodation. It also allows us to continue working with parents of children who need special attention, and to run workshops to help with social reinsertion for the most vulnerable.”

The number of people assisted

“In our kitchen we serve around 350 people every day: People who are staying in our facilities, and many who come to us because they have no resources and need the support of entities such as Casa Caridad. In our facilities in Pechina and Benicalap we have 120 people staying with us, and we are in contact with the families of the over 150 children in our ‘Escuelas Infantiles.’”

The change during the coronavirus outbreak

“We are in a State of Alert, with measures in place for everybody. Those who use us, as well as citizens of Valencia, have a home in our facilities. We have put in place additional cleaning measures and hygiene protocols for our workers and users. We have restricted who enters and leaves the house and we have suspended volunteer work to limit contact with people from outside.

“Those who are staying with us still go to the kitchen. For those who would come to our kitchen from outside before the Covid-19 outbreak, who have their own homes, we deliver them a food kit with non-perishable products that last several days, to keep them at home. For those who sleep on the streets or in one of the facilities created by the City Hall during this time, we give them a daily food kit.”

Keeping the #CoronaVida campaign going

“We are infinitely grateful to Valencia CF. If this situation is difficult for people who have a normal life, imagine what it is like for those who are most vulnerable and who are invisible to many of us. We ask that people collaborate with the #CoronaVida initiative, so that we can raise as much money as possible to give the most vulnerable another opportunity, treat people with dignity and allow them to become an active part of society. Any one of us could find ourselves in that situation.”