No. 34 - Its Gran Canaria Magazine

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REPORT I REPORTAJE EDICIÓN 34
The Sabina Group embodies excellence in the field of perfumery,
showcasing a image that captivates everyone who
enters its establishments. This showroom setting, which has
earned the Sabina Group numerous awards over the years,
including the prestigious recognition for the Best Image in
the Tourist Market and the distinction as the Best Tourist Perfumery
in the Canary Islands, reflects the undeniable excellence
and leadership of the company in the sector.
That said, the Sabina Group's reputation transcends its impeccable
image and prominent position in the industry. The
company sets itself apart by embracing traditional values
rooted in the importance of family and solidarity. This commitment
to fundamental principles adds an ethical and humanitarian
dimension to its identity, consolidating its status
as an entity that not only stands out for its sophistication, but
also for its significant contribution to the promotion of essential
values in society.
Once again this year, the Sabina Group has delivered 19,856
kilos of charity in the form of staple foods such as pasta, milk,
rice, gofio cornmeal, oil, vegetables and sugar to Cáritas Diocesana
de Canarias. They have been performing this charitable
act since 2012, which consists of donating 1% of Christmas
sales – the top turnover dates in the world of perfumery - in
the form of food to Cáritas, an official Church body entrusted
with the task of carrying out and promoting charitable and
social campaigns through the coordination, assistance and
promotion of the exercise of charity by volunteers, communities
and groups, respecting their autonomy.
Cáritas receives over 19,000 kilos
of food from the Sabina Group
This generous initiative goes back a long time, as in 2012 they
delivered 6,450 kilos of food; in 2013 they managed to double
the number of kilos and delivered 11,264; and in 2019, just
before the pandemic, they exceeded 20,000 kilos. This year,
they have come close to beating their record with 19,856 kilos
of food, a figure that makes them highly optimistic and
means that the Sabina Group is about to celebrate almost
185,000 kilos of food donations in just 11 years.
Gilberto Castillo, Director Gerente de Sabina y Gonzalo Marrero Rodríguez,
director de Cáritas Diocesana de Canarias, rubricando la colaboración.
The Sabina Group has established itself as a community-focused
company through its various charitable actions. Over
the years, it has collaborated closely in campaigns for gender
equality, animal protection, assistance for volunteers who accompany
and entertain children in the oncology and diabetes
wards at the Maternity Hospital... This are praiseworthy
solidarity actions, added to which is the feat of ensuring that
1% of its Christmas turnover is transformed into food for the
families who need it most.
In conversation with Lalo Daswani, president and co-owner
of the Sabina Group, he pointed out "these solidarity campaigns
are all about giving back to society everything that
this land has given us. In addition, the Sabina team would like
to thank all the people who made purchases last Christmas
for having done their bit to make this project possible".
Gilberto Castillo, Sabina's Managing Director, added "this
almost continuous growth in the amount of food collected
annually by the company for Cáritas Diocesana de Canarias
is something that makes us feel very proud and grateful". Today,
in addition to its many physical shops in the Canary Islands,
the Sabina Group has opened its doors to Europe and
the whole world through its online business, which is growing
every day and which the Group has been able to develop
efficiently thanks to a website that has become a true digital
benchmark in a few short years.
Social poverty in the Canary Islands
Having to talk about providing basic necessities in the 21st
century may seem foolhardy, but nothing could be further
from the truth. Although it is true that data have moved in
the right direction and improvements have been made, the
current situation is that 36% of the Canarian population, that
is, almost 780,000 people, are at risk of poverty and social
exclusion.
The efforts made by Caritas Diocesana de Canarias since
1955 have been fundamental. In the words of Gilberto Castillo,
"the work carried out by Caritas Diocesana de Canarias
is key for the welcoming and accompaniment of vulnerable
people and those at risk of social exclusion. Cáritas Diocesana
de Canarias is able to reach out to those who are not protected
by other administrations, thanks to a network of selfless
volunteers who are there to help the less fortunate people in
society".
The director of Caritas Diocesana, Gonzalo Marrero Rodríguez,
pointed out that "it is imperative to highlight the essential
role played by the Sabina Group. Its historical collaboration,
which continuously assists between 550 and 700 families,
translates into a fundamental support for our capacity to
respond to the most urgent needs. The Sabina Group's aid,
which is exclusively for food, is a solid pillar of our assistance
structure. This collaboration is not sporadic, it has been sustained
systematically over the years, which makes it an indispensable
component for the effective functioning of Cáritas.
We are deeply grateful for this partnership, which undoubtedly
makes a difference to the lives of hundreds of families
who depend on our help”.