SQM Workers to Support More than 13 Thousand People Through Soup Kitchen Fund

In response to the public health crisis generated by COVID-19, SQM joined forces with Fundación La Semilla to launch a grant program to help a variety of organizations implementing soup kitchens throughout Chile. Fifty-six projects have been accepted, which will directly benefit 13,468 people.

Launched by SQM, the initiative invited all employees to come up with projects to help strengthen the work that diverse community organizations are doing through “community soup kitchens.” In the end, the grant program for the Soup Kitchen Assistance Fund attracted numerous applicants.

In all, 56 projects were awarded funds, involving a total of 226 workers from the mining company. Thanks to these initiatives, food and cooking utensils will be delivered to neighborhood councils, sports organizations, senior citizen groups, parenting associations and indigenous groups.

“As part of the corporate volunteer program Lend a Hand to Your Community, our workers are demonstrating their connection to the areas where they live. With their help, we have allocated all of the available funds,” commented Pablo Pisani, Director of Communications, Sustainability and Public Affairs for SQM, adding that “through these projects we can help diverse community organizations support their members, many of whom are unemployed, over 70 years of age, have disabilities or are otherwise at risk.”

The organizations receiving support work in Arica, Iquique, Alto Hospicio, Pozo Almonte, María Elena, Tocopilla, Calama, Antofagasta, San Pedro de Atacama, Taltal, La Serena, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Santiago, Colina, Pedro Aguirre Cerda, Pudahuel, Maipú, La Pintana, Conchalí, Lampa and Pichidehua.

This community initiative is complementary to the community action plan SQM has launched to address the COVID-19 public health crisis. This plan has four action areas: Health, social wellbeing, education and healthy living, and economic recovery.