No gifts under the tree for over 1 in 5 Italians (21%)
by choice but also because of the concerns and difficulties caused by the pandemic that have reduced the availability of household spending: this is what emerges from a Coldiretti-Ixe analysis 'from which there is widespread fear for the effects of the Omicron variant on the economy and employment.
"The increase in those who are forced to give up giving gifts is in fact - underlines Coldiretti - the tip of the iceberg of the uneasy situation in Italy that sees over 4.8 million poor people forced to ask for help for food in the Christmas holidays. to eat in canteens or with the distribution of food parcels ". In fact, among the new poor in Christmas 2021 there would be "those who have lost their jobs, small traders or artisans who have had to close, people employed in the underground who do not enjoy particular subsidies or public aid and have no savings set aside, as well as many temporary workers or those with occasional activities who have been damaged by the limitations made necessary by the spread of infections due to Covid. People and families than ever beforenow - Coldiretti points out - they had experienced such problematic conditions of life. And looking to the near future, in addition to people at risk of food poverty, there is 17.4% of Italians who, for fear of not making it, will have to limit themselves to basic expenses, including housing and food ".
However,
against poverty, the survey continues, "solidarity is also triggered, with over 4 Italians out of 10 (43%) who this year make donations or are involved in some charity work on the occasion of Christmas".
In order to help fight the new poverty, the distribution of about
half a million kilos of gourmet food and drinks for the new poor has taken place during the week of Christmas.
to offer everyone the opportunity to put the best Made in Italy agri-food products on the table and spend more peaceful holidays, promoted by Coldiretti, Campagna Amica and Filiera Italia with the participation of the most important economic and social realities of the country. The goal is to give even the poorest the opportunity to taste the best of national gastronomy to remember that together with the health emergency we must fight the economic and employment emergency. Dozens of vehicles have been organized for deliveries throughout the peninsula to proceed with distribution to families in need identified by Coldiretti / Campagna Amica together with the social services of the municipalities and parishes. "Each family receives a package of over 50 kilos with 100% Made in Italy products - Coldiretti remembers - from pasta to legumes, from tomato sauce to cotechino, from raw ham to flour and more ".
