Karuna, an oasis of solidarity in Maspalomas

 

What began as an initiative to help the residents of San Bartolomé de Tirajana during the most complicated time of the pandemic has ended up resulting in a key partnership for the municipality and its most needy neighbors. Karuna mobilizes daily to deliver food and basic necessities to many families without resources in the municipality.

 

The association has established its base of operations on San Mateo Street, between the Day Center and the Maspalomas Municipal Stadium, where they have a warehouse to keep the food they distribute in optimal condition. They also have offices where they maintain reports and records of the distributions, both in physical and digital format. Paco Molina also shows us one of the association's most special corners: "the wardrobe," as he calls it, a room with clothing for anyone in the municipality who needs it. "Many people come and tell us they have a job interview and need a suit, a shirt, or a jacket, and we provide it here," he explains.

 

Paco tells us very proudly how what began as a volunteer initiative that distributed food in a civil protection ambulance, handing out food to lend a hand during the state of alarm, has ended up becoming a solidarity institution within the municipality that, since its foundation, , has already helped more than eight thousand people who have gone through difficult times.

 

Karuna has also crossed borders. Its founder tells us that they went to La Palma to help during the volcanic eruption and have even traveled to Ukraine on several occasions to offer humanitarian aid in conflict zones. “We have a van, we load it up, disembark in Huelva, and after three days of travel through Europe, we're in Ukraine .” During the visit, Paco emphasizes the importance of donations of clothing and essential supplies so that the association can continue helping more than a hundred families in San Bartolomé de Tirajana.

 

Address: Calle San Mateo S/N, Plaza Timanfaya, San Bartolomé de Tirajana

652 45 76 79

karunamaspalomas@gmail.com