Supporting Barcelona’s Homeless Community Through COVID-19

The COVID-19 coronavirus has changed almost every aspect of daily life, including reshaping homelessness and affecting how nonprofits are helping the homeless.

This story is about Belden Channel Program Manager Ernesto Bernal and how he’s using Belden’s Connect with Community program to help the homeless in his community of Barcelona, Spain.

After being diagnosed with COVID-19 in early 2020, Ernesto went through a one-month recovery and emerged on the other end of it with an overwhelming desire to help others. Ernesto learned that in Barcelona, the number of homeless people increased during COVID. And according to the latest figures, 10% of those experiencing homelessness in the city are women.??

He began volunteering with IURAA, a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness about human rights. It connects individuals, groups, companies and humanitarian organizations to promote a better life for all those who need it. Through their charitable projects, fundraising, and volunteer work, they gather resources for social and charity projects.

Specifically, he joined IURAA’s SAKADO project. Working with the French Lycee, the French school Ferdinand de Lesseps, and a number of volunteers, the SAKADO project was able to collect enough donations of socks, clothing, food, and drinks to fill 100 backpacks. The backpacks were then distributed to homeless people in Barcelona.

In addition, Ernesto volunteers at a food bank one day each month to distribute meal kits to the homeless in Barcelona, as many soup kitchens were forced to close their doors due to the pandemic.

This is exactly the kind of opportunity we envisioned with the Connect with the Community program. We offer employees five paid volunteer days per year, to encourage them to recognize need and opportunity where they live and become part of the solution.

Here’s what Ernesto had to say about his experience:

“COVID has upended all our lives and our daily routines, and we may never get back to normal. It’s easy to feel powerless, but we can all make a difference. I appreciate Belden encouraging all of us to do so through the Connect with Community program.”

Please join me in saying “Thank you” to Ernesto for giving back, and to all Belden associates who are using their Connect with Community benefit to fill needs where they live and work.?