It is Saturday morning in Moncalieri, Italy, and the Church of the Nazarene’s building is bustling with energy in this town situated at the foothills of the picturesque Italian Alps.

The aroma of coffee brewing brings smiles to many faces as Pastor Matteo Ricciardi visits with neighbors and the church’s food distribution program participants out front, in the place that has become a gathering space for the neighborhood in recent years.

Just off to the side, the church’s recently purchased van has arrived, full of fresh food donated from nearby supermarkets. Volunteers have formed an assembly line to unload and sort the food for each family that will arrive today to collect it.

And so it goes every Saturday with this group—half of them church members and the other half community service workers, serving as part of the church’s agreement with the local court system to provide community service opportunities for those needing to complete their required hours.

Domenico is one of the workers who learned about the program through the court system and was drawn to the opportunity after speaking with Pastor Matteo. Though he grew up in Moncalieri, Domenico had never heard of the Church of the Nazarene, but he quickly became interested in helping support families in his hometown, even using some of his connections in the community to secure more weekly food donations that he picks up throughout the week.

When asked about his favorite part of serving in the program, he said, “I like the feeling at the end of the day. I am a golfer. And normally, on Saturday mornings, I like to play golf. But during this time, when I come here and then I go home around lunchtime, I have a feeling that I did not waste time. The feeling remains with me at the end of the day, and I feel it is the best thing.”

The Saturday morning routine highlights the real value of this program: creating community. To bridge the gap for those who cannot afford enough food on a regular basis, a network of people from the church, the neighborhood, local supermarkets, the national food bank, and the court system has emerged.

Like many places around the globe, Moncalieri has a mix of long-term residents and immigrant families. Growing national poverty and unemployment rates have created a greater need for food assistance, particularly among the most vulnerable groups.

Then, in April 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns exacerbated the situation, with many families experiencing financial hardship due to job closures and restrictions. This is when the church decided they could do something to serve their neighbors.

What began as a small, self-funded initiative has developed into a structured support program, thanks to partnerships with local stores and Italy’s national food bank network operated through the Italy District Church of the Nazarene’s non-governmental organization (NGO), Associazione Missione Nazarena Italiana (AMNI). As public social services face increasing strain, the initiative now provides essential aid to families and individuals in need, and the congregation has become a vital resource for those in vulnerable situations.

“Our congregation recognized this need and stepped in to provide support… that is particularly useful because it serves as support for immigrant families who may face additional barriers in accessing social services,” explained Pastor Matteo. “And, it promotes community solidarity by bringing people together and responding to immediate needs.”

This is an abbreviated version of a story that first appeared in NCM Magazine 2025 Issue 2. To read the story in full, click here.