At Caritas Sestu, patience has run out. The same scenario repeats itself every day. Bags of clothes, often in terrible condition, old, battered furniture, and recently even a dirty mattress—all of it is left outside the door of the headquarters on Via Scipione. They certainly don't look like gifts, but rather like trash, turning this place into yet another landfill, from a symbol of generosity to yet another monument to incivility. But after witnessing this scene for the umpteenth time , Franco Locci, deacon of the Church of Nostra Signora delle Grazie and director of the Caritas branch, decided he'd had enough. So he posted a clear message on Facebook, complete with photos.
"Dear friends, I'm sure some people are doing this with the best of intentions, but dumping this material is the work of people devoid of even the slightest notion of education and civility. Caritas users are poor, but possess tremendous dignity and self-respect. For this reason, Caritas will never remove material dumped outside its headquarters." And he warns: "Those responsible for the outrage depicted in the photos will be identified, using the footage held by the Municipality, and sanctioned by the local Municipal Police."
The town hall is in fact located right next door and the surveillance cameras surely captured whoever did it.
"These are gestures that hurt me," Locci vented over the phone, "for example, I wouldn't even let a stray dog sleep on that mattress."
There have been many similar cases; as early as June 2024, local residents had noticed piles of the usual bags left on their doorsteps. Back then, it was a surprise; now, it's become a regular occurrence.
But what's behind it? "They're people who are poor inside," Locci comments. And they're most likely private citizens, or people who clear out storage rooms and collect waste for a fee. But they don't comply with the Tari (waste tax) and just dump it anywhere. And illegal landfills, previously limited to the suburbs, are now also reaching the city center.
Caritas does accept donations: "Furniture, clothing, and other items, as long as they're usable, and until space is filled. Just stop by every Wednesday afternoon, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm, or contact me or the other volunteers," Locci recalls. This is a vital service for the community, helping dozens of families and leaving those who donate with the feeling of truly doing something useful. Because what's no longer needed can be a treasure for someone else. As long as it's not something to be thrown away.