PEOPLE • Article • June 12th 2023
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The Plenitude
Volunteering Project
An important gesture to support charities
Launched in 2018, the Project introduced one paid leave day per year dedicated to volunteering work.
The initiative, set up in partnership with Banco Alimentare, is part of our strategy to support the communities where Plenitude operates, and was enthusiastically embraced by roughly 170 people in 7 Italian provinces. In addition to being an important gesture in of itself, it has given our employees an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the non-profit sector and improve their teamwork skills in a completely new professional context.
Encouraged by the participants’ enthusiastic feedback, the social good they performed, and our employees’ interest in having more volunteering opportunities, in 2023 Plenitude decided to expand the project by introducing a second day of paid leave and establishing new collaborations with Associations and Third Sector Entities (ETS). As part of the expansion, the company has re-defined the volunteering activities that can be carried out with each association, ranging from outreach in public squares or other venues to “skill-based” volunteering, which allows individuals to share their own expertise with others.
The associations currently involved
Fondazione Francesca Rava helps children, adolescents, vulnerable women and families facing hardship in Italy, Haiti and the world through distance adoption programs and projects to increase awareness of children's rights, as well as other volunteering activities.
AISM, the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association, which for over 50 years has been addressing every facet of multiple sclerosis through a comprehensive program that embraces the rights of patients, improving healthcare and social services, alongside the promotion and funding of scientific research.
Fondazione Albero della Vita helps hundreds of families free themselves from poverty by providing practical support to make ends meet, assisting adults in finding jobs and supporting children through the challenges of growth with educational and psychological support.
The activities carried out
The inaugural event of the new Volunteering Project took place on 17th November 2023 with the initiative “In Pharmacy for Children”, organised by Fondazione Francesca Rava. Numerous Plenitude people across Italy spent a day in one of the over 2,750 participating pharmacies to collect over-the-counter medicines to be donated to children supported by the Foundation's projects.
Two additional volunteering activities took place in public squares in collaboration with AISM: Pandottone on 15th December 2023 and Gardensia on 8th March 2024. On both occasions, Plenitude volunteers contributed by selling panettone in December and gardenia and hydrangea plants in March, to raise funds for scientific research and offer support to those affected by multiple sclerosis and related diseases.
At the same time, 8th March marked the first volunteering day with Fondazione Albero della Vita, in Milan. This was a “skill-based” volunteering opportunity, where Plenitude volunteers offered their expertise to participants. The day was divided into two parts: the morning session dealt with how to save money at home and understanding utility bills, while the afternoon was dedicated to assisting children in workshop activities or with their homework.
Maria Serena Onorato from Plenitude reflected on the experience, stating:
“Friday was a very special day, unique in fact, because through our work and expertise we were able to assist mothers and families supported by Fondazione Albero della Vita. In the morning, we helped mothers better understand their bills and how to better budget in everyday life, making the most of their energy. In the afternoon, we helped volunteers reorganise the centre's spaces and assisted children with their homework."
The project is set to continue in the coming months with many new volunteering opportunities. This is a tangible and meaningful step towards a more inclusive future for all.
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