Giovani Lions, a dual initiative scheduled for Saturday, November 14, on the occasion of World Diabetes Day and Food Collect Day, to raise awareness of the risks of type 1 and type 2 diabetes while helping to address the food emergency affecting various countries around the world.
Starting at 11:00 a.m. (and continuing until 1:00 p.m.), a food drive will be held at the Lidl supermarket (Via dei Praticelli 18) by members of the Leo Club Valdelsa Fiorentina Unitas, the Lions youth organization with territorial jurisdiction over Empoli and the municipalities of the Florentine Valdelsa. For those interested in participating in this charitable initiative, it is recommended to leave only shelf-stable foods to the volunteer members (present with a counter set up in front of the supermarket entrance). Anyone unable to deliver food in the morning will also be able to do so in the afternoon during the event at the Ridotto del Teatro.
In the afternoon, starting at 2:00 PM, the meeting of the Second District Council for the 2026/2027 social year will take place at the Ridotto del Teatro del Popolo, called by the Leo 108 La District and the Leo Club Valdelsa Fiorentina Unitas.
The initiative, which enjoys the patronage of the Municipality of Castelfiorentino, will be attended by Mayor Francesca Giannì and Councilor for Social and Health Policies Federica Parisi. Upon completion of the work, an aperitif open to all is planned at the Ristorante “Corale” (cost 35 euros, reservations on the form: https://forms.gle/N2k3kHpKXTC7Yx7i6, dress code required: blue color) and, at dusk, the entire area of the “large holm oak” in front of the Ridotto will be illuminated by an evocative blue color, in reference to the “blue circle” that represents the symbol of World Diabetes Day.
“We are happy to sponsor this initiative – underlines the Mayor, Francesca Giannì – which aims to raise awareness and promote the initiatives and projects of the Leo Club Valdelsa Fiorentina Unitas, a youth organization committed to social work, numerous educational activities and in the healthcare sector. A concrete example of civic participation and commitment that as an Administration we can only encourage and support, also because it is also, and above all, from young people that we will have the opportunity to maintain and preserve the solidarity vocation of our community”.
“Organizing this District – observes Amelia Salvadori, President of the Leo Club Valdelsa Fiorentina Unitas – is a source of great pride and emotion for me. It is an initiative I care deeply about because it manages to unite, in a single day, two anniversaries of immense value: World Diabetes Day and Food Collect Day. Taking to the field with our service on this occasion means transforming awareness-raising into concrete help, taking care of both health and solidarity towards those most in need”.
As you may recall, International Diabetes Day is celebrated annually on November 14, which coincides with the birth date of Frederick Banting, the scientist who discovered insulin in 1921, and aims to raise awareness among the population about adopting a proper lifestyle and controlling blood sugar levels for early symptom recognition.
