Since the beginning of the disaster, Mercadona has joined the group help for people affected by DANA and reinforces the measures carried out under a single postulate: “Do whatever is necessary and even when it is necessary, because now is the time for proximity”, as declared Laura Cruz, director of the action social responsibility of the company and coordinator of the human team specialized in donations, works and logistics of Mercadona and in charge of the management of all collaborative actions.
The company, since the beginning of the disaster, has implemented measures focused mainly on donating essential products to social entities for those affected (food, equipment, materials, etc.), reaching more than 300 tonnes delivered in coordination with its suppliers; by supporting the workers concerned; and in collaboration with the authorities through the provision of different resources.
Regarding donations, Mercadona provides food to all the soup kitchens with which it collaborates and who are in the affected areas and surrounding areas, and whose needs are being considered beyond the food they may need. The company maintains constant contact with the Food Bank of Valencia to respond to the needs that arise, to which it has donated a total of 300 tons in collaboration with its suppliers, more than 10 food trailers.
In addition, always in collaboration with its suppliers, it has been supply Ricard Camarena’s “Solidarity Cuisine” program with fresh and canned products, from which 10,000 hot meals per day were prepared in the facilities of the supplier Frescos Delisano and 4,500 meals per day from its restaurant.
All these actions are in addition to those carried out at the start of this disaster, such as the provision of two company stores from which donations were sent, the purchase and delivery of 1,200 pallets of water and the delivery of a first food. need to serve people in need in different points located in the province of Valencia (L’Alquería del Basket, the North Station, the La Petxina sports complex and the Cheste Town Hall).
In the case of its workers, the company, which at the time was asked to all those directly concerned to give priority to what was truly important (family, home, etc.) Without affecting their remuneration and without recovering the time allocated to them, it facilitated mobility so that they could go to their workplace and mobilized 1,000 volunteer workers from other services of the company, to help them with the tasks of adapting and cleaning the premises. stores, in order to be able to open as quickly as possible and to be of service to neighbors.
Regarding collaboration with the authorities, among the latest measures carried out, it should be noted that the company has made available to the Department of Social Services advice and logistical support, in addition to a 7,000 m2 warehouse in Picassent ( Valencia) to channel donations. give the space of L’Alquería del Basket to military units moved to the area as a base of operations and provide transport vehicles for aid distribution.
