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Regalo sospeso, Source: Livorno Municipality

Regalo sospeso, or a gift waiting to get to a child

Regalo sospeso, or a gift waiting to get to a child

The innovative charity practice will take place in Livorno this month

Have you ever heard of caffé sospeso (or ‘suspended coffee’ in English)? This is an act of kindness involving the purchasing of a cup of coffee at a café and leaving it there for a stranger who might also be in need of one but does not have the means to buy it. Its brilliance is the anonymity on both sides.

This Italian good charity practice will now be taken to the field of Christmas gift-giving. The city of Livorno has announced that it is launching the ‘Regalo sospeso’ (‘Suspended gift’) initiative with a slew of participating stores in the Tuscan locality. Now anyone can buy a small gift for a child in need and rejoice in knowing that this act is sure to bring some smiles.

Santa can work in mysterious ways

The start of the initiative was given today and will continue until 21 December. During those two weeks, residents of Livorno can go to one of the participating shops (members of the two merchant associations – Confcommercio and Confesercenti) and buy a gift with the express purpose of leaving it at the store so that it will be later given to a child.

“A further opportunity offered not only to the children of the families who find themselves most in difficulty,” said the councillor for Social Affairs, Andrea Raspanti, adding: “but also to the city as a whole to experience a Christmas that is certainly different yet without renouncing the spirit of solidarity which this year we particularly need. A sincere thanks to the participating shops and associations that, once again, have joined with enthusiasm”.

In order to facilitate the subsequent operation of gift distribution, which will be carried out by volunteer associations, and also to provide similar in value gifts to all the children, the municipal administration has decided to limit the choice of products to three categories: toys, books and stationery items.

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