Mercadona joined forces with the Red Cross to launch a charitable effort in Alicante aimed at securing food for residents. The initiative centers on supporting more than 2,700 individuals enrolled in the Red Cross Response Plan within the province.
How does the Red Cross Response Plan operate?
The promotion takes place across 47 Mercadona points, inviting customers to participate in this solidarity action in support of the Red Cross in Alicante. Shoppers contribute through monetary donations, with amounts in multiples of one euro, at the checkout. All gifts are later converted into prepaid cards that fund products such as vegetables, fruits, eggs, meat, and fish for vulnerable families in the region. The program also aims to strengthen the perceived value of aid provided to families by empowering people to select fresh items for their own baskets.
The effort is complemented by Red Cross workshops and training sessions that offer ideas for healthy, economical, nutritious, and sustainable menus. The goal is to help households shop more efficiently and make better use of limited resources.
The campaign runs on the designated dates, March 31 and April 1, supported by more than 200 Red Cross volunteers. Forty-seven supermarkets across Alicante will provide on-site information about how customers can participate and how funds are allocated.
Red Cross: humanity and dignity
The Red Cross stands as the world’s largest humanitarian, civic, and independent movement. It partners with public and private institutions to ensure that dignity and relief reach people everywhere, at all times and under varying conditions, through a history that spans 158 years.
Within Spain, the Red Cross deploys more than 256,000 volunteers and operates over 1,250 service points, serving roughly 15 million people annually worldwide. This impressive reach is supported by nearly 1.4 million members, businesses, and allies from diverse sectors of society.
The Red Cross has launched initiatives such as Red Cross Responses, which deliver direct and immediate support to crises driven by epidemics, climate change, and conflicts like those in Ukraine. These efforts address rising needs amid a cost-of-living crisis, with a first-phase target to assist more than 100,000 people and an initial budget of eight million euros.
In response to urgent basic needs, Red Cross Responses provide goods and financial assistance, promote knowledge of measures to reduce individual hardship or expand resources, and foster personal autonomy so people can lead their own changes. By implementing actions that reinforce progress, the organization seeks to offer an immediate reaction alongside long-term transformation. The Red Cross operates under seven fundamental principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality.