In San Marino, 81 families are currently receiving food assistance from Caritas, supporting a total of 196 people. The figures paint a picture of poverty that is increasingly present even on the Titano, where the rising cost of living, utility bills and rents are putting growing numbers of citizens under strain.
It is against this backdrop that the Food Collection (Colletta Alimentare) returns on Saturday 14 November, marking its 30th edition. The day of solidarity will bring together volunteers of all ages, from middle school students to pensioners, united by the goal of gathering food donations for those in need.
The response from San Marino’s residents has consistently been strong. In 2025, volunteers collected more than 16,000 kilograms of food — a 17% increase on the previous year — a result that confirms just how deeply rooted the initiative has become within the community.
What is cause for concern, however, is the rising number of requests for support. “Poverty has increased in recent years, first and foremost because of the cost of living: higher bills, rents and housing costs,” explains Luca Foscoli, director of Caritas San Marino-Montefeltro, who also points to difficulties linked to family separations and the search for housing.
Housing in particular is becoming one of the toughest challenges to tackle, especially for those with limited financial means or who suddenly find themselves without a home.
The Food Collection therefore represents not only concrete support but also an opportunity to directly involve the population. This is underlined by Davide Cavalli, president of the Associazione Amici del Banco Alimentare (Friends of the Food Bank Association), who notes that solidarity among San Marino’s residents has never wavered, even when the issue of poverty was less visible.
The initiative, which originated in France before spreading to other countries, has found steady participation in the Republic, drawing together both Catholic and secular groups, young people and the elderly alike.
“Fighting poverty is the responsibility of institutions, but it also involves the whole community,” notes the Secretary of State for Health, Massimo Andrea Ugolini, stressing that alongside material needs there is often also a need for listening and closeness.
Those leading the Food Collection were received in audience by the Captains Regent, Gerardo Giovagnoli and William Casali, who described the initiative as “a leaven of hope for our society and a testament to a humanity that knows how to care for its neighbour.”
