Elena’s experience: sharing the meaning of life through the net that supports The Solidarity Bank in San Donato Milanese, a city of more than 30,000 inhabitants in the south-west suburbs of Milan, where there is a community of the Sisters of Charity
‘In the occasion of the World Day of the Poor proclaimed by Pope Francis for 17 November, I would like to recount a small experience of solidarity that I live in the area where I live.
There are elderly people, families and young people who unfortunately cannot meet basic needs, such as food.
When you have a need, it is nice to share it with someone; it is precisely from this that the Association of Solidarity Banks was born on a national level, and for some years now, even in San Donato Milanese, it has been trying to give a concrete response to situations of poverty.
Some people belonging to the Communion and Liberation movement have taken these situations to heart: every month we meet and, after a moment of prayer and reflection, we prepare what we call ‘parcels’ containing basic necessities and more. Distribution is done two by two so that together we support each other.
Sharing this need with them also allows us to share the meaning of life, standing beside those who suffer, taking their difficulties but also our own into our hearts. We take the person we meet seriously for all the value he or she is: this is possible because we were first looked upon with love by an Other. The companionship we bring and receive is able to support other difficulties such as health, home, work, loneliness; over the years there have been families who, despite no longer needing food, asked us to continue to see each other and keep each other company. I was asked by a family to be godmother to their recently born son, and there it became clear to me that the life of this child, who is now a boy, is in the hands of Another who wanted me to be an instrument of His glory in my misery. I perceive a gulf between what I would like to do for them and what I am capable of, and this allows space for the Mystery.
We need to follow a precise method and way of helping and assisting. Before we prepare the packages, we look for products and this is done by organising collections both in supermarkets and in schools.
In particular, here in San Donato, as far as schools are concerned, we contact teachers and headmasters, as well as the school where I teach, the Istituto Comprensivo di Via Libertà.
We make arrangements on the day of the month when we do the collection called ‘Friendly Ant’; we tell the story of the Association, we meet the classes who wish to do so, and on the chosen day we collect the basic necessities which will then be collected and taken to the warehouse from where the distribution starts.
I have briefly recounted this small gesture of charity that endures over time because it is not an act of generosity but has at its origin a good look at me, a fullness that I live and wish to bring to others from whom I receive much because it makes me love more what I live in daily life.
It does not start from a lack but from a fullness and this changes everything because I live it with gratitude despite and within the fatigue it entails. I dare say that this charity passes precisely through this little effort that changes my outlook on reality without me even realising it: it is a profoundly educational gesture, therefore interesting and moving.
Elena Z., 15 November 2024
