UCP staff, faculty and researchers help cook meals at the Homeless Support Centre

As part of the Christmas Solidarity Campaign "Somos lugar de Encontro", Universidade Católica Portuguesa launched the first corporate volunteering initiative of the VIDA Project - Volunteering at Católica.

For four days, 33 volunteers had the opportunity to support the preparation, cooking and packaging of 400 meals to be distributed to people in need during the evening rounds of CASA - Centro de Apoio ao Sem-Abrigo (Homeless Support Centre).

For Rita Paiva e Pona, coordinator of UCP's Social Responsibility Office, the participation of these volunteers "reinforces the University's social responsibility towards the partner organisations of the VIDA Project - Volunteering at Católica", including CASA.

The head of the project emphasises: "through these initiatives we build bridges that link our commitment to excellent academic teaching with our social commitment, creating a positive impact on the community."

CASA's mission is to help homeless people who are part of families at risk or families in need, through social solidarity actions, providing close contact, food, clothing and social reintegration services, regardless of social stratum, ethnicity, religion or gender.