Mar Shopping Algarve in Loulé and Mar Shopping Matosinhos are delivering food hampers to around 200 needy families in their local boroughs.
The initiative is being organised by Ingka Centres – which manages the shopping centres – with the help of the Faro and Montenegro parish unions, Faro GNR, Almancil and Leça da Palmeira Re-Food centres, Matosinhos council and security company Prosegur, which has provided vehicles to deliver the food parcels.
“As soon as we realised this crisis would require more restrictive measures, Mar Shopping Algarve and Mar Shopping Matosinhos began contacting local institutions as well as their partners in order to help families in need during these difficult times,” said Ana Machado, Ingka Centre’s community engagement manager in Portugal.
“Local councils were already delivering groceries and medicines to elderly people who were self-isolating, but there was a significant number of families who needed support because their financial situation was deteriorating. These are the families we are helping,” she added.
Machado also said that the shopping centres are delivering “full hampers, including fresh products and canned goods”.
The hampers will be delivered throughout the next three months.
