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Feed 382 families each week at Community Pantry in Ribeirão Preto

Marcelo runs a volunteer pantry feeding 382 families; this fund restocks shelves for the winter.

🇧🇷 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil1,326 views
Marcelo Sebastião Vasconcelos
Email verified
Ribeirão Preto
Since 2019, our volunteer team has run Community Pantry every Friday from the back of the mosque courtyard. We started with 22 families, and now we feed 382 each week. Donations have dropped by about 37% this winter, while the line has grown every single week. We rely on volunteers - 17 of us - and keep no salaries or overhead. I buy staples at wholesale prices at the Ribeirão Preto market and keep every receipt. Each $15 feeds a family of four for a week. I'll post the weekly shopping receipts and a photo of the shelves each Sunday. Where the $1,050 goes: • Rice, beans, flour and oil (wholesale): $490 • Fresh vegetables and fruit: $290 • Baby formula and diapers: $170 • Refrigeration and electricity: $100 Thanks for reading all this. - Marcelo

Updates from Marcelo

No updates yet. Supporters are notified when the owner posts one.

  • Diệp Diệp Ho 🇻🇳 · $200
  • Mitu Salma Uddin 🇧🇩 · $164
  • Jocelyn T. Aguilar 🇵🇭 · $100

    “All the best. Only $100 but hope it helps. - Bacolod”

  • Émilie Brun 🇫🇷 · $100
  • Leandro Gustavo Figueiredo 🇧🇷 · $100

    “All the best. Thought of Marcelo all day after reading this. - São Paulo”

  • Jordan A. Tran 🇺🇸 · $75
  • Anonymous 🇳🇿 · $50
  • Irina Elena Melnyk 🇷🇺 · $50
  • Daniela Velasco 🇲🇽 · $30.50
  • Salma Farhana Sultana 🇧🇩 · $30
  • Anonymous 🇹🇷 · $25
  • Travis S. Acosta 🇺🇸 · $25
  • Addison M. Jimenez 🇺🇸 · $25

    “Hope the March deadline works out. - Reading”

  • Vinayak G. Chavan 🇮🇳 · $25
  • Paulette Barrett 🇯🇲 · $25
  • Yong-jun Hong 🇰🇷 · $20
  • Alessia Antonella Rizzi 🇮🇹 · $20

    “You got this. My sister told me about this one. - Bologna”

  • Danylo Taras Mazur 🇺🇦 · $20
  • Céline Sophie Adam 🇫🇷 · $20
  • Grace Hellen Temba 🇹🇿 · $20

Reviews

3.6(9 reviews)

Only people who gave to this need, or whose offer to help was accepted, can review it.

  • Naufal Joko Hidayat🇮🇩Verified helper
    Very responsive and caring

    I can't speak highly enough about this helper. They were available when I needed them, supportive when I felt lost, and practical in their solutions.

  • Janet E. Powell🇺🇸Verified helper
    Patient and understanding

    I was nervous about reaching out, but this person made me feel comfortable and supported from the very first interaction. Their help was invaluable.

  • Nana Kwaku Yeboah🇬🇭Verified donor
    Exactly what I needed

    This experience has restored my faith in the goodness of people. The helper was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about my outcome.

  • Shivam S. Thakur🇮🇳Verified helper
    Outstanding person

    I was nervous about reaching out, but this person made me feel comfortable and supported from the very first interaction. Their help was invaluable.

  • Evans Opio Kiprop🇺🇬Verified donor
    Exceeded expectations

    I had a complex problem and this person helped me navigate it step by step. Their expertise combined with their kindness made all the difference.

  • Florian Pierre Prevost🇫🇷Verified helper
    Helped when no one else could

    I had a complex problem and this person helped me navigate it step by step. Their expertise combined with their kindness made all the difference.

  • Sebastião Guilherme Nascimento🇧🇷Verified donor
    Trustworthy helper

    I was skeptical at first, but this person proved to be reliable and genuinely interested in helping. Their response time was incredible and their solutions were practical.

  • Wafula Ochieng Simiyu🇰🇪Verified donor
    Professional and kind

    I was nervous about reaching out, but this person made me feel comfortable and supported from the very first interaction. Their help was invaluable.

  • Bruno Daniel Dantas🇧🇷Verified helper
    Reliable and compassionate

    This is what community support looks like. They didn't just offer generic advice; they provided personalized help tailored to my specific situation.

Questions & comments

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  • Wishing you peace, Marcelo. It takes guts to ask. Well done. Blessings.

    • Keep going. Hope this works out for you. Put this on a community board in Rennes this morning.

      • stay strong, Marcelo. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Love from Lyon.

        • Hope it all works out, Marcelo. Great idea, hope you get there. Thinking of Ribeirão Preto.

          • Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. I have a 15 year old who wants to send good wishes too. Thinking of Ribeirão Preto.

            $1,239.50 raised of $1,050

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