The DANA that hit Valencia and other regions of the peninsula generated a great wave of solidarity throughout the country. An example of this is the thousands of volunteers who work day and night to manage the tons of aid they give from different points. In Madrid, as in many other cities, all forecasts were exceeded; the city has mobilized to organize the massive collection of essential products for affected families in more than 20 points established by the City Hall, although the Regional Federation of Vecinal Associations of Madrid (FRAVM) affirms that more food and goods cannot are no longer necessary.
One of the largest collection points is located at the Madrid City Hall headquarters, at the Palacio de Cibeles. Carlos, who arrived early in the morning to help, explains to elDiario.es that he is there because he always thought that helping others was a duty. Their job, along with that of their colleagues, consists of collecting and classifying the products that local residents bring to them. In all activated locations, the majority of participants are young volunteers who have decided to devote their free time to this cause.
Many volunteers believe there should be more support from institutions and the private sector. “The most important thing is that we all have to collaborate, if those at the top don’t want to lend a hand, then we are there to lend a hand,” explains Lucía. Furthermore, he emphasizes that this is a humanitarian issue and that companies should “make it easier for their workers to participate as volunteers at these critical times.” Volunteers also stress that while more donations are no longer needed, there are many other ways to help affected areas.
On Santa Engracia Street, the collection center is full of people from early in the morning. Volunteers explain to this newspaper that the influx of people bringing donations is constant until 9 p.m., with a significant peak after 6 p.m., and that it has not diminished over the days. Most of the time, those who offer help are young people who classify the products and organize the boxes according to needs. “We have been here all day since Saturday, classifying and preparing batches of cleaning products, water and food,” explains one of the volunteers, who also highlights the incessant arrival of donations, particularly products like milk, water, non-food products. perishable items and children’s products.
The logistics process followed by these collection centers is already very well designed. According to Jaime, a volunteer from Santa Engracia Street, each neighborhood has one or more collection points where an initial classification of donations is carried out. Then the trucks transport the material to the Crystal Palace of Casa de Campo, where a second cataloging is carried out. From there, donations made throughout the city are transferred to a logistics center in the La Garena district of Alcalá de Henares and are finally distributed to the province of València and the rest of the affected areas.
This coordinated work between volunteers, neighbors and professionals such as firefighters and rescuers makes it possible to move more than 20 trucks per hour. Despite the large quantity of clothing and food that they continue to receive, the organizing team recommends starting to prioritize certain materials: “It is better not to bring more clothing or food. What is most recommended are batteries, chargers and cleaning products,” explains one of those responsible for the Santa Engracia organization.
For many volunteers, participating in this aid network is more than a one-off action, it must be a long-term commitment because help is needed now but also in a few weeks. “Today it was Valencia, but tomorrow it could be us,” explains Lucía as she arranges boxes of water and cleaning products.
At the collection point in the Centro neighborhood, located in the Plaza de la Cebada, volunteers insist that they will offer themselves until they are needed, although they do not know if they will continue – beyond Thursday, the date planned for the Town Hall. closes the points that remain open. Those responsible for the point demand that people remember that the hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and ask that citizens check the items they need most daily, since a certain saturation point is reached.
