Meet Projeto Gentileza, unfunded initiative that fights hunger since 2021

Idealized by Vicente Filho, Projeto Gentileza 2022 is a social media that distributed food for homeless people in the city of Teresina, Piauí. Despite the name, the initiative was created in 2021 and, for being a small-sized project without any funding, the organization works through the internet, not having a headquarters. However, even being new and unknown, it is fundamentally important for those who benefit from it.  The action does not discriminate against its beneficiaries by age, color, appearance, clothing, gender or race.

With an identity relating to the Brazilian left-wing, Felipe says that the project can satisfy the hunger of people that, undeservedly, find themselves in an abandoned situation. The goal is achieved thanks to the union’s strength of followers that get the importance of carrying for the next person.

Projeto Gentileza has two objectives: help the ones more needy, focusing on who, for diverse reasons, is living in situations of vulnerability and, also, fight the hunger, showing that a united community has the power to transform, comfort and humanize.

How the project works

“Our followers contribute with R$15,00 and, with those donations, the project ‘goes shopping’. We prepare the food and distribute lunchboxes always in an itinerant way. These actions happen under viaducts, squares, alleys or degraded areas of the city. We don’t judge anyone, we just ask people if they are hungry”, says Vicente. 

Even though he organizes almost everything alone, Vicente has help preparing the lunchboxes, in distribution and also in the communication with the 3 thousand followers now, that is made individually.

Project Gentileza 2022, in Vicente’s words, is a protest, a union of people against the actual country’s situation, especially between the poor and minorities.

The initiative stands only on the important and kind collaboration of some people because, despite the high followers numbers, according to Vicente it is a hard time for the majority of contributors and, due to this, less than 5% can collaborate financially.

It is worth remembering that the project needs every possible help to pay for food, kitchen gas, disposable packages, fuel, among other necessities.

Numbers

Since its beginning, the project has already distributed more than 600 kits of lunchboxes, cakes and juices. Its composition varies according to breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Challenges

“We start from the beginning, buying food and donating the lunchboxes ourselves. The first challenge was to pass credibility to people who we have never seen before, but we did and made partners who are, today, more than friends. Our collaborators trust the project and we trust every one of them, this is a gift. And, today, we have a second challenge that is to be able to grow the project, make it reach more people who want to help us. We are in difficult times. Caos, abandonment, unemployment, disease and hunger! Therefore I want to add that, no matter how small the gesture is, every gesture of love for others is worth it. Mine, yours and everyones that joins good actions and causes. A huge from me and my right-hand, my mother, directly from Piauí”, finishes Vicente Filho.

How to help

To help the project, follow the Instagram page. Donations are welcome through PIX: Cellphone – (86) 99976-0509 – Vicente.