The Archconfraternity of Mercy of Prato unanimously approved the 2023 social budget. The past year closed with a profit of 42 thousand euros, net of over 220 thousand euros in taxes paid. The total revenue was approximately eleven million euros.
The vote took place last night, Monday 12 June, in the auditorium of the operational headquarters in via Galcianese, where the annual meeting of members was convened. On the occasion the proposed Gianluca Mannelli took stock of the activities carried out by the Archconfraternity through its headquarters and its twenty-six sections spread across the Prato area and partly also in the Florentine area. «The balance sheet certifies a lively and vital Misericordia di Prato, which was able to grasp situations of hardship and was committed to providing adequate responses to the population – states Mannelli –, as we highlight every year, our activity must not be measured in economic terms, profit is not our goal, we certainly must be careful administrators to safeguard the integrity of the heritage and to free up resources to reinvest in our activities”.
Some numbers. In 2023, a year made complicated in recent months by the management of the terrible flood of 2 November, the Misericordia di Prato carried out 160 thousand social-health and emergency transport services 118, the latter through the use of ambulances with healthcare personnel and only rescuers carried out 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in agreement with the ASL (there are eleven in the central office alone and forty-two in use in the sections, plus 110 vehicles in total for social transport). During the year, shifts were always guaranteed with an average of 3/4 volunteers, supporting the employed staff.
The many activities at the service of the population implemented by the Misericordia are made possible thanks to the voluntary and daily commitment of around two thousand brothers and sisters, supported by 130 young people from the civil service.
Among the initiatives we remember the usury prevention listening centre, the family consultancy, the Fratres blood donor group and the many services promoted by the women’s section (among the various we highlight the management of the Telefono Amico Italia).
The work carried out by the Civil Protection Group was important, first involved in the emergency in Emilia-Romagna with fifteen volunteers and five vehicles (also for the purpose of reconnaissance of the territory in connection with the various operations rooms), then in the flood emergency in the province of Prato with one hundred and ten people and thirty vehicles, making local offices available for the reception of displaced people, for the collection of food and clothing, but also as operations centers.
Participatory healthcare facilities. The Misericordia di Prato also plays a leading role in the area by offering medical centers and diagnostic aids, such as the Dental Center (where social services are provided for needy patients thanks to an agreement with the Diocese, in 2023 there were twelve), the clinics at Parco Prato (over 15 thousand services), the Santo Stefano Diagnostic Institute in Prato (55 thousand services) and Vaiano (10 thousand).
Last June 2nd, on the occasion of Republic Day, the proposed Gianluca Mannelli was awarded the honor of merit of the Republic, for his personal commitment within the Archconfraternity and for how he was able to lead the institution, working in synergy with others local authorities, during the difficult periods of the pandemic and flood. «It is a recognition that I want to share with all the brothers and sisters of this important and glorious Mercy», concludes Gianluca Mannelli.
