A path that starts from the heart. This is what Rocco Fornabaio, a volunteer from Antoniano, engaged in part of the Cammino di Sant’Antonio is experiencing until October 20th (a 431 km route between nature, history and spirituality through Veneto, Emilia Romagna and Tuscany), from the Antonian Sanctuaries of Camposampiero to Bologna, where the association is based. Rocco, who has been active with Antoniano for three years and is passionate about trekking, walks for himself, but above all for others, starting with those who are most in difficulty and need a hand. The aim of his solidarity initiative, “Pasto After Meal”, which started on 13 October, is to raise funds to support the Operation Pane network, Antoniano’s campaign which supports 20 Franciscan canteens in Italy – from Bari to Monza, from Catanzaro to Turin – and 5 in the world – Aleppo, Kyiv, Konotop, Odessa, Braila – which every day welcome those who have lost everything and need help to find hope again.
Rocco’s journey is also supported by the Emilia Romagna section of Trekking Italia, the association of which the volunteer belongs. By making a donation to Meal after Meal, through the site www.antoniano.itit is possible to guarantee a hot meal for one person for a day, three days, a week, a food basket for two families (or free donation).
The friars of Operation Pane work every day to welcome and help those in difficulty, offering a hot meal, a word of comfort, help with daily expenses or what is needed to spend the night. With the recent increase in living costs, more and more families and people are struggling to put a meal on the table and need help. Thanks to Operation Pane, to date 7,600 people have been supported and 1,400 families helped.
(In the photo, Rocco Fornabaio)