Over 50 delicious and nutritious meals shared with a community of homeless people in piazza Tasso. That is what the Buon Cibo Per Tutt* association achieved on October 19 with the help of friends and local businesses. In a city where gastronomy is ubiquitous and an integral part of the culture, they want to make it accessible to all and create a social impact through good food. About the association, Juliette Benet, the founder, explained, “Buon cibo per tutt* is inspired by social movements around gastronomy such as Food for Soul. We would like to involve and inspire Florence’s community, and to strengthen social ties around constructive food projects.”
The association is in its early days. The members are made up of a group of friends, internationals and locals living in Florence, all with a mutual taste for sharing. Juliette has been working with NGOs in the humanitarian sector for seven years and wanted to develop a social project centered around cooking. She decided to use her experience in the non-profit sector and combine it with her passion for food as a vehicle for change, starting in Florence. She said of the event, “It was so rewarding to see people come back to compliment the food. That was our aim: not just to serve meals, but to treat them and share a moment together.” Ellie, one of the team members and a career photographer, added, “Food is the perfect bridge to connect with people and have an excuse to interact with your neighbour.”
This initiative was part of the wider #UniversalPlate campaign run by The Social Gastronomy Movement, a global network of local communities that use gastronomy as a tool for social transformation. Buon Cibo Per Tutt* teamed up with local businesses for this first project. The Scandinavian bakery Wild Buns, which opened on via di Camaldoli in 2018, donated the bread and sweet buns, and a local restaurant provided the ingredients for the meals while wishing to remain anonymous. To ensure that the homeless community in the area was informed and could join them on the date, Buon Cibo per Tutt* liaised with the Albergo Popolare near piazza Tasso a few days prior. As Ellie added, “It only takes a couple of friends coming together and the generosity of those around us to create something bigger than ourselves.”
Following the success of this initial event, Juliette is already thinking about future initiatives. The group wants to reach more people from different communities in need. “Our aim is also to raise awareness of the right to good food for all and the power of cooking as a vector for social change, and to inspire others to take similar action.”
The association will certainly need more hands on deck and partners for its future projects. If you would like more information about what the initiative does and how you can get involved, please contact info.buoncibopertutti@gmail.com or follow @buoncibopertutti on Instagram for the news about the next action!
