Small and big gestures of solidarity that in the particular historical moment that Italy is experiencing are even more invaluable for our society. To help cope with the Covid-19 health emergency, a few 100-year-old companies belonging to the Association have developed initiatives and projects aimed at supporting the local communities they belong to, the health workers engaged in care and assistance activities, the law enforcement, the families in need, and also the business owners in difficulty.

Officine Mario Dorin 1918 from Fiesole (Florence) and Tessitura Busatti 1842 from Anghiari (Arezzo) have converted the production and donated large quantities of masks to their respective Municipalities, as a sign of the two businesses’ deep connection with the local communities in which they were born and where they still maintain their operational headquarters. Villani Salumi 1886 from Castelnuovo Rangone (Modena), an Italian state-of-the-art company operating in the delicatessen sector, took part in the Charity Food project promoted by SSC Napoli, and together with other sponsors of the Neapolitan football club, contributed to a charity project in favor of the neediest brackets of the population, aimed at ensuring the distribution of foodstuffs in collaboration with 22 local charities.

During the first weeks of the Covid-19 health emergency, two initiatives were promptly developed by Manifatture Sigaro Toscano 1818 from Lucca and Banca Sella Holding Spa 1886 from Biella.

Starting from March 14^th, our Tuscan Associate decided to activate in favor of its employees "a special insurance coverage offering a compensation in case of hospitalization due to the infection, a convalescence bonus and a package of post-hospitalization services, in order to guarantee a peaceful recovery and better family management". Banca Sella Holding Spa 1886 made it possible for the small shops that had to close because of the coronavirus emergency to continue their online activities, to limit the damage and experience the potential of e-commerce, with a view to a faster recovery from the crisis. A campaign launched by Banca Sella - based on an idea by the Biella-based startup Vidra, born in the Sellalab innovation center - to support families and businesses that have faced a serious crisis due to the closure of all commercial activities.

Poli Distillerie 1898 from Schiavon (Vicenza) launched the product “Alcol Mask”, a sanitizing hydroalcoholic solution, donating the first 5000 vials to operators who fight alongside citizens on a daily basis against Covid-19: Unione Montana Marosticense’s Civil Protection and Bassano del Grappa’s Carabinieri, State Police and Red Cross. «It is not the first time that the distillery faces a very difficult moment - says Jacopo Poli. - We have built up an immunity. Therefore, we will move forward with humility, kept steady by our strong roots".

The Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica of Santa Maria Novella 1612 from Florence has started producing hand sanitizing gel, developing a new manufacturing process to put thousands of pieces on the market at cost price (covering only labor and material expenses). The first sanitizing gels produced were donated to the State Police, the Customs Agency and to volunteer cooperatives. A fabric sanitizer is also currently under study.