Social Cooperative Activities for Minority Groups 'EDRA'

Member: NGO Premium
Since: 10.06.2010

14, Dilou Street, GR-121 34 Peristeri, Athens, Greece

RSS

A basket for those in need

25.04.2011 Share

By Despina Pavlaki

A grocery founded to provide cheaper goods to people of low or no income has now issued a call to the wider public not only to donate but to also shop there, supporting its services and its mission.

Established in the autumn of 2010, the Social Grocery (koinofeles pantopoleio) was born out of the efforts of NGO EDRA, the vocational rehabilitation agency Drasi and the Municipality of Agioi Anargyroi-Kamatero.

"It had been in the back of our minds for the past three or four years," says Aristea Goutsiou of EDRA, speaking of a dream come true.

The Social Grocery caters to three different categories of Athenians: poverty-stricken people who are eligible for complimentary commodities ranging from food stuffs to clothes and homeware and people with very low income who are entitled to goods with a very large discount.

But there's a third category as well, and we're all in it: ordinary people, who can shop their available groceries at regular supermarket prices.

Easter demand
Most of the stock to be found at the Social Grocery has been donated by suppliers or other independent parties, so whatever you spend is directly in support of its social work.

In view of Easter, however, the demand seems to outgrow the offer: "The campaign was the fruit of the collaboration between AB Vassilopoulos supermarkets and the Social Grocery in view of the holiday season,” says Goutsiou. “It was carried out at three AB supermarkets in Ano Liosia, Ilion and Peristeri and did really well. We amassed a lot of supplies we’ll be able to put to good use during Easter."

On two separate weekends between April 1 and April 9, NGO EDRA strategically placed volunteers at the entrance of these supermarkets, informing people of the ongoing campaign in order to contribute before they left.

The thinking was pretty simple: you could buy any product you wanted while doing your weekly shopping and donate whatever you felt you could live without by simply handing it over to the appointed volunteer on your way out. The products would then be distributed to anyone in urgent need of support on the Social Grocery list. All they had to do was sign up via their local social service branch.

Never late to donate
The campaign is scheduled to be repeated soon, but that doesn't mean you've missed out on your chance to contribute. The Social Grocery, a 200m2 space provided by the Municipality of Agioi Anargyroi- Kamatero, accepts donations in kind and serves as a clothing depository for items you've grown weary of.

On the shelves you'll find food stuffs and a variety of cleaning products, which you enter in your weekly shopping rotation, instead of always crossing the same corporate thresholds. The Social Grocery is located at 12, Chiou & Kalimnou Streets in Anakasa and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Right next to it you will find EDRA's second pet project, Melia, a rehabilitation centre for children with learning disabilities which started functioning a few months prior to its neighbour.

"Melia offers free educational rehabilitation and counselling services to children with learning difficulties, but takes the parents into consideration as well," says Goutsiou. With the help of the municipal services, it employs a number of specialists including speech therapists, counsellors and other professionals trained in the educational field, but you do need an official diagnosis before your kid is entitled to get help. So what happens to uninsured migrants?

"Since we’re an NGO we've made an effort to incorporate a percentage of people with no insurance," says Goutsiou, although it's pretty clear they remain in the minority.

For those interested in signing up for free for Social Grocery goods, call social services on +30 210 269 0852. For further details on the store, you can contact Panayiota Andrianopoulou at +30 210 238 0208 and mob.: +30 693 678 4725.

What EDRA does
EDRA was established in 2001 as a nonprofit organisation providing specialised services in the mental health and learning disabilities sector in western Attica. Its multifaceted activities, including housing, medical care, legal services, reliable scientific information and a multitude of other specialised services to mentally ill people and children with learning disabilities makes it one of a kind.

The NGO is currently running two boarding houses, at Ilion and Peristeri, providing an alternative rehabilitation route to adults with learning disabilities and secondary psychological problems. It also runs a vocational rehabilitation centre at Ilion and five psychoeducational centres for children in Peristeri, Ilion, Agioi Anargyroi, Vyronas and Dafni in collaboration with the local social service branches. Its fields of expertise include speech therapy, learning disabilities like dyslexia, vocational rehabilitation, special education, psychological support and family counselling services.

For more information, please visit www.edra-coop.gr.

Source: "Athens News".