The project “LA COMPAGNIA DELLA POLENTA” was founded in early 2015 by some animal welfare volunteers who were collecting blankets for a kennel. At that time, an event happened that was the trigger, namely the news of a homeless man who died in the street alone and froze to death.

The news did not leave the volunteers indifferent, made them reflect on the absurdity of what had happened, and prompted the desire to get active and not stand by these injustices and social inequalities.

Eight years have passed since then and in the meantime the project has become more and more focused and has grown.

The main activity consists of cooking and distributing 100/110 hot, vegan and complete meals every Tuesday and Thursday in two locations that have been assigned by the Milan municipality (Lambrate and Largo Marinai d'Italia). In addition to meals drinks, blankets, tents, clothing and hygiene products are delivered.

 

The name ”The Company of Polenta”was chosen because the first meal served was polenta with a legume ragout and was particularly appreciated. The vegan cuisine is certainly the unique and distinctive element of the project and was inevitable, given the animalistic spirit of the volunteers.

It is not only a choice that respects animals, the environment and all the inhabitants of this planet, but also the different religious and dietary backgrounds of our users, issues on which there is increasing attention and awareness. 

The association is made up exclusively of volunteers, who, in parallel with the cooking and distribution activities, do a lot of work in promotion activities, fundraising, food, unsold food, blankets, clothes and shoes, in an ongoing effort to advance the project and at the same time contribute to the reduction of food surpluses and reuse of products still in good condition.

With this in mind, the idea was born to inform athletes participating in sporting events of the possibility of giving a second life to shoes no longer suitable for competition