In Uruguay, about 3,500 people live in a street situation. Although the number represents only 1% of the population, behind that percentage there are thousands of faces, stories and daily struggles for a plate of food or a place to protect themselves, especially in the coldest months of the year.
To deal with this reality, the Social Pastoral of the Archdiocese of Montevideo launched for the second consecutive year the “I add a dish” campaign, an initiative that seeks to transform the solidarity of the faithful in food, distributed through church services as dining rooms, picnings and popular pots of the capital.
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“What the Social Pastoral does is put funds, but also food donations, and we distribute it in parishes, pots or services. We make intermediaries, we buy in quantity to get a lower price, and we distribute it,” the director of the Social Pastoral, Deacon Mauricio Calleo Abreu, told ACI Press.
Currently, among all the services coordinated by the Pastoral, 5,500 food dishes per week are delivered and 500 families are assisted with food supplements, baskets and other supplies.
In 2024, thanks to this campaign, seven tons of food were bought. So far from 2025, four tons have already been acquired, which allows to project an impact similar to last year, although “we cannot yet evaluate,” says Calleo Abreu.
The call to collaborate remains in force throughout the year, but is especially reinforced between May and September, when the cold multiplies the needs. “In winter people need more than one plate of food, another caloric level,” explains the deacon.
In addition to this campaign, the Social Pastoral works in various areas: migrants, street situation, addictions, women, family, people who leave prison, ecology, among others. Many of these actions are articulated with the State and civil society organizations.
One of the most significant gestures of last year was the donation made by Pope Francis – through the community of Sant’Egidio – which allowed to acquire 800 mats and sleeping bags, in addition to 100 blankets for people in street situations.
The important thing is to give heart
Those who wish to collaborate with “I add a dish” can make a suggested donation of $ 150 Uruguayan pesos (around USD $ 3.70 US dollars), although “the important thing is to give from heart,” says the deacon.
“Sometimes from the little ones, the poorest, God speaks to us,” he emphasizes, referring to the evangelical passage of the widow who offered everything he had.
Beyond material aid, the proposal also promotes “a space for prayer, listening, closeness,” Valo Calleo Abreu values.
The work team consists of Mauricio, along with the deacons Juan de Marsilio, Jorge Vargas and Daniel González. It is also made up of María José Carrau, secretary, and Fr. Juan Andrés Verde, project advisor. In this and the other projects, SEMPRE are welcome new volunteers.
In addition to “I add a dish”, other areas – as the addiction program – are developing specific campaigns to add hands and resources. “We are looking for donations to be able to make some reforms,” says Mauricio, encouraging the community to collaborate.
How to help?
Donations can be done through the platform collectionby ABITAB (No. 143171), the Red Paids (No. 86270).
For more information and consultations, communicate by mail to pastoralsocial@icm.org.uy or to telephone 095 258 707.
Julieta Villar
I am a journalist, a graduate in Communication from the National University of La Matanza in Argentina. I have work experience in non -governmental organizations. Since 2016 I dedicate myself to Catholic journalism, first in the Argentine Catholic Information Agency (AICA) and, since 2022, as a correspondent for ACI Press for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia.