Croce Verde Pinerolo: a party to celebrate more than a century of solidarity

On Sunday 1 October, in Piazza San Donato, in front of Pinerolo Cathedral, the Pinerolo Green Cross celebrated its 110th anniversary of foundation with great enthusiasm and solemnity. The celebration was a moment of great significance not only for the association itself but also for the local community, which attended the event in large numbers.

President Maria Luisa Cosso welcomed everyone present and expressed her gratitude to the volunteers and employees of the association for their commitment over the years, particularly during the pandemic. He also emphasised the profound significance of this anniversary, calling it ‘a school of altruism and working with passion’.

The event was attended by many local and regional authorities, including the president of Anpas Piemonte and vice-president of Croce Verde Pinerolo, Andrea Bonizzoli, the mayor of Pinerolo, Luca Salvai, the regional councillor for Social Policies, Maurizio Marrone, the regional councillor Silvio Magliano, the councillor of Anpas Piemonte and president of the Centro di Servizio per il Volontariato della provincia di Torino, Luciano Dematteis, and the official of the Civil Protection Department, Giampaolo Sorrentino.

President Cosso emphasised how, over the past five years, the dream of equipping the association with 11 new vehicles, including ambulances and vehicles equipped to transport people with disabilities, has come true. This was possible thanks to the collective efforts and dedication of volunteers and employees.

Andrea Bonizzoli, president of Anpas Piemonte and vice-president of Croce Verde Pinerolo, emphasised the importance of volunteering in the public assistance sector. He emphasised that volunteering is a fundamental pillar of society and praised the unwavering commitment of the volunteers and employees of the Public Assistances, especially during the pandemic, when they continued to provide essential services to the community.

The mayor of Pinerolo, Luca Salvai, reflected on the importance of volunteering and the fact that the Croce Verde already existed before and will continue to do so after. He emphasised the fundamental role of institutions in supporting volunteering and recognising the importance of this form of community service.

After an ecumenical ceremony at Pinerolo Cathedral celebrated by the local bishop, Derio Olivero, there was the inauguration of the new Pinerolo Green Cross vehicles. The event was made even more significant by the presence of Marcello Manassero, a volunteer who has been actively involved in the association for 63 years.

The day’s celebrations were enriched by the participation of the San Lorenzo di Cavour musical band, the Tamburini di Pignerol drummers, and costumed figurants from the La Maschera di Ferro Historic Cultural Association of Pinerolo, who contributed to creating a festive and engaging atmosphere.

Currently, the Pinerolo Green Cross offers a wide range of services to the community, including emergency rescue 118, intra-hospital transport in agreement with health authorities and support to schools for the disabled. The association is also involved in the distribution of medicines, hot meals and foodstuffs. These services are made possible by the commitment of 22 employees, 20 relief drivers and 160 volunteers.

In 2022, the vehicles of the Pinerolo Green Cross travelled an impressive 396,841 kilometres and carried out 16,298 services, of which 15,518 were medical services. These services were made possible thanks to more than 18,000 hours of employee services and 49,000 hours of voluntary work. The association’s fleet consists of 24 vehicles, including 13 ambulances and six vehicles for transporting the disabled.
Staff training is a priority for Croce Verde Pinerolo, which devotes great attention to the preparation of its volunteers, employees and instructors. Regular refresher courses are provided to ensure an increasingly professional and high-quality service.

The Anpas Comitato Regionale Piemonte, of which the Croce Verde Pinerolo is a member, represents a network of 81 volunteer associations with over 10,000 volunteers, who perform over half a million services each year, covering a total distance of almost 19 million kilometres. Volunteering is an indispensable value for society and, thanks to the commitment of associations such as Croce Verde, it continues to be a fundamental pillar for the well-being of local communities.

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ANPAS