Valencia CF have been demonstrating the club's social commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic with the ‘AMUNTWorld’ campaign, which has helped people in the Valencia region and beyond in a time of need. One such action has seen a collaboration with the Banco de Acción Solidaria foodbank, converting Mestalla into a distribution centre for non-perishable food and prepared meals.
Visiting the initiative recently was club ambassador Ricardo Arias, as he checked in with the Banco de Alimentos de Valencia and Banco de Acción Solidaria headquarters. He participated in a delivery to two families who have difficulties travelling to collect the food provided for them, with the help of official club vehicles from Škoda.
Ricardo Arias: “You only have to come by here to see the work that is being carried out. The club help by lending the use of Mestalla, where we are running food distribution on Tuesdays and Thursdays on a fortnightly basis. An institution like Valencia CF logically have to be a pioneer in this type of help. We come along, lend a hand and we are allowed to help as volunteers. The important thing is that the food reaches people, not who takes it to them."
Jaime Sierra, Banco de Alimentos de Valencia president: “We have volunteers who offer us their hard work, effort and fight for others every day. The foodstuffs arrive here and are shared out between centres and families. We move around 8 million kilos every year. In Valencia there are thousands of families who are going through a very bad time, and they would have to go to Pobla del Vallbona to collect food. Now that we are at Mestalla we can give this coverage, which is an honour for everybody who forms part of this project. I'm a loyal follower of Ricardo Arias. Him being involved in this project says a lot about Valencia CF, who have pulled the strings to make this a reality."
Maribel Navarro, Banco de Alimentos de Valencia administrator: “The Banco de Alimentos and the Banco de Acción Solidaria have to be on the frontline to help those less well off -in this case the families who need it most. All of the Valencia CF fans can be proud that we have a great club who are number one for solidarity. Nobody else wanted to lend us their facilities to provide food for those most in need in the capital, and Valencia CF came forward. Amunt Banco de Alimentos and Amunt Valencia CF."