In Italy, 'Suspended Shopping' Helps Those Facing Economic Hardship During Pandemic : Coronavirus Updates : NPR

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class="contentheader contentheader--one"><div class="branding branding--seamus"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/"><picture><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/03/19/c_virus_outbreak_sq-da13c5d35151937526bb15807fbc7e93183fa9b1.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=webp" class="branding__image-promo" type="image/webp" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/03/19/c_virus_outbreak_sq-da13c5d35151937526bb15807fbc7e93183fa9b1.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="webp" /><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/03/19/c_virus_outbreak_sq-da13c5d35151937526bb15807fbc7e93183fa9b1.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=jpeg" class="branding__image-promo" type="image/jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/03/19/c_virus_outbreak_sq-da13c5d35151937526bb15807fbc7e93183fa9b1.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" /><img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/03/19/c_virus_outbreak_sq-da13c5d35151937526bb15807fbc7e93183fa9b1.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=jpeg" class="branding__image-promo" alt="The novel coronavirus, first detected at the end of 2019, has caused a global pandemic." data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/03/19/c_virus_outbreak_sq-da13c5d35151937526bb15807fbc7e93183fa9b1.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" /></picture><div class="branding__inner"> <h2 class="branding__title">Coronavirus Updates</h2> <b class="branding__mini-teaser">Latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic</b> </div>  </a> </div>  </header> <section id="main-section"><article class="story story-blogpost"><a id="mainContent"></a><div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/series/812054919/the-coronavirus-crisis">The Coronavirus Crisis</a> </h3> </div> <div class="storytitle"> <h1>In Italy, 'Suspended Shopping' Helps Those Facing Economic Hardship During Pandemic</h1> <input type="hidden" id="title842891052" value="In Italy, 'Suspended Shopping' Helps Those Facing Economic Hardship During Pandemic" /> <input type="hidden" id="shortTitle842891052" value="In Italy, 'Suspended Shopping' Helps Those Facing Economic Hardship During Pandemic" /> <input type="hidden" id="modelFullUrl842891052" value="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/24/842891052/in-italy-suspended-shopping-helps-those-facing-economic-hardship-during-pandemic" /> </div>  <div id="story-meta" class="story-meta has-byline"> <div class="story-meta__one"> <div class="story-meta__one-inner"> <div class="dateblock"> <time datetime="2020-04-24T10:55:00-04:00"> <span class="date">April 24, 2020</span><span class="time">10:55 AM ET</span> </time> </div> <div class="program-block"> Heard on <a href="https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/2020/04/28/846887293/morning-edition-for-april-28-2020">Morning Edition</a> </div>  </div>  </div>  <div class="story-meta__two"> <div id="storybyline" class="storybyline-wrap linkLocation"> <div class="bucketwrap byline"> <div class="byline-container--block"> <div class="byline byline--block byline--has-link" aria-label="Byline"> <div class="byline__photo"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/2101034/sylvia-poggioli" rel="author"> <picture><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/06/12/wany3858_sq-99a85b41887a804c40c9decf7b44ad89442bba79.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=webp" class="img" type="image/webp" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/06/12/wany3858_sq-99a85b41887a804c40c9decf7b44ad89442bba79.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="webp" /><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/06/12/wany3858_sq-99a85b41887a804c40c9decf7b44ad89442bba79.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=jpeg" class="img" type="image/jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/06/12/wany3858_sq-99a85b41887a804c40c9decf7b44ad89442bba79.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" /><img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/06/12/wany3858_sq-99a85b41887a804c40c9decf7b44ad89442bba79.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=jpeg" class="img" alt="Sylvia" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/06/12/wany3858_sq-99a85b41887a804c40c9decf7b44ad89442bba79.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" /></picture> </a> </div> <p class="byline__name byline__name--block"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/2101034/sylvia-poggioli" rel="author"> Sylvia Poggioli </a> </p> </div> </div> </div>  </div> </div>  </div>  <div id="primaryaudio" class="storylocation linkLocation"> <article id="res846919832" class="bucketwrap resaudio" aria-label="audio-module"><div class="audio-module"> <h4 class="audio-module-title">In Italy, 'Suspended Shopping' Helps Those Facing Economic Hardship During Pandemic</h4> <div class="audio-module-controls-wrap" data-audio='{"uid":"842891052:846919832","available":true,"duration":206,"title":"In Italy, \u0027Suspended Shopping\u0027 Helps Those 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data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/23/img_7086_vert-39f3dd86b81ca959ec767802ecf00953563dad81.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" sizes="(min-width: 1300px) 763px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 496px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 171px), calc(100vw - 30px)" class="img" type="image/jpeg" /> <img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/23/img_7086_vert-39f3dd86b81ca959ec767802ecf00953563dad81.jpg?s=1100&c=50&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/23/img_7086_vert-39f3dd86b81ca959ec767802ecf00953563dad81.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" class="img" alt="" loading="lazy" /> </picture> <div class="enlarge-options"> <a class="enlargelink" href="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/23/img_7086_vert-39f3dd86b81ca959ec767802ecf00953563dad81.jpg?s=2600&c=100&f=jpeg">Enlarge this image</a> </div> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> A customer places her order at the window of the Er Cimotto grocery shop in Rome. Suspended shopping is an act of charity in which the donor doesn't show off and the recipient doesn't have to show gratitude. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Sylvia Poggioli/NPR </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Sylvia Poggioli/NPR </span> </div> <div class="enlarge_measure"> <div class="img_wrap"> <picture> <source data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/23/img_7086_vert-39f3dd86b81ca959ec767802ecf00953563dad81.jpg?s=2600&c=100&f=webp" type="image/webp"> <source data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/23/img_7086_vert-39f3dd86b81ca959ec767802ecf00953563dad81.jpg?s=2600&c=100&f=jpeg" type="image/jpeg"> <img data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/23/img_7086_vert-39f3dd86b81ca959ec767802ecf00953563dad81.jpg?s=2600&c=100&f=jpeg" alt="" /> </picture> </div> </div> <div class="enlarge_html"> <div class="image_data"> <p class="caption">A customer places her order at the window of the Er Cimotto grocery shop in Rome. Suspended shopping is an act of charity in which the donor doesn't show off and the recipient doesn't have to show gratitude.</p> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Sylvia Poggioli/NPR </span> </div> </div> </div> <p>In Italy, where the coronavirus has shuttered more than 2 million businesses and left 1 in every 2 workers without income, some Italians are putting a new twist on an old custom to help the needy and restart the economy.</p> <p>In Rome, the Piazza San Giovanni della Malva used to echo with the noise of crowded cafes and restaurants. Now, the only business open is a grocery shop, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/frutteriaercimotto">Er Cimotto</a>.</p> <div id="res843258046" class="bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col "> <div class="bucket img"> <a class="imagewrap" id="featuredStackSquareImage178829301" href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/04/24/178829301/eu-embraces-suspended-coffee-pay-it-forward-with-a-cup-of-joe" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"story_recirculation_click","clickType":"inset box","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thesalt\/2013\/04\/24\/178829301\/eu-embraces-suspended-coffee-pay-it-forward-with-a-cup-of-joe"}' ><picture><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/04/25/italybarista_sq-b89ae607aac5c34620e073161a5f33cb969088ff.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/04/25/italybarista_sq-b89ae607aac5c34620e073161a5f33cb969088ff.jpg?s=100&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/04/25/italybarista_sq-b89ae607aac5c34620e073161a5f33cb969088ff.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="webp" class="img lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/04/25/italybarista_sq-b89ae607aac5c34620e073161a5f33cb969088ff.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/04/25/italybarista_sq-b89ae607aac5c34620e073161a5f33cb969088ff.jpg?s=100&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/04/25/italybarista_sq-b89ae607aac5c34620e073161a5f33cb969088ff.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="img lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /><img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/04/25/italybarista_sq-b89ae607aac5c34620e073161a5f33cb969088ff.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/04/25/italybarista_sq-b89ae607aac5c34620e073161a5f33cb969088ff.jpg?s=100&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/04/25/italybarista_sq-b89ae607aac5c34620e073161a5f33cb969088ff.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="img lazyOnLoad" alt="EU Embraces 'Suspended Coffee': Pay It Forward With A Cup Of Joe" loading="lazy" /></picture></a> <div class="bucketblock"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/">The Salt </a></h3> <h3><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/04/24/178829301/eu-embraces-suspended-coffee-pay-it-forward-with-a-cup-of-joe" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"story_recirculation_click","clickType":"inset box","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/thesalt\/2013\/04\/24\/178829301\/eu-embraces-suspended-coffee-pay-it-forward-with-a-cup-of-joe"}' >EU Embraces 'Suspended Coffee': Pay It Forward With A Cup Of Joe</a></h3> </div>  </div>  </div>  <p>It's so small that social distancing forces customers to order through the window.</p> <p>On a recent morning, a shopper asks that 10 euros ($10.83) be added to her bill for what's called <em>la spesa sospesa</em>, "suspended shopping." The concept derives from the century-old Neapolitan tradition of "<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/04/24/178829301/eu-embraces-suspended-coffee-pay-it-forward-with-a-cup-of-joe">suspended coffee</a>" — when a customer in a cafe pays in advance for someone who can't afford it.</p> <p>Shop owner Michela Buccilli says suspended coffee has been replaced with suspended grocery shopping.</p> <aside id="ad-backstage-wrap" class="ad-wrap backstage" aria-label="advertisement"> <div class="ad-header "><span>Sponsor Message</span></div> <div id="ad-backstage-News_World" class="ad-config ad-backstage has-refresh-enabled" data-ad-config='{"network":"\/6735\/","site":{"desktop":"n6735.NPR","mobile":"n6735.NPRMOBILE"},"zone":"News_World","targets":{"testserver":"false","isPodcastEpisode":"false","storyId":"842891052","program":"Morning_Edition","agg":["812054919","434975886","816541428"],"blog":"816541428"},"location":"backstage","deferred":false,"isBetweenContent":true,"overflowCount":null,"hasRefreshEnabled":true,"isOutstreamVideoEnabled":true}'></div> <div class="ad-footer "></div> </aside> <div id="res843259478" class="bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col "> <div class="bucket img"> <a class="imagewrap" id="featuredStackSquareImage828021259" href="https://www.npr.org/2020/04/07/828021259/in-naples-pandemic-solidarity-baskets-help-feed-the-homeless" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"story_recirculation_click","clickType":"inset box","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2020\/04\/07\/828021259\/in-naples-pandemic-solidarity-baskets-help-feed-the-homeless"}' ><picture><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/06/gettyimages-1208728966_sq-a81adad9b0e260bb4a468588493a06bf157fc64c.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/06/gettyimages-1208728966_sq-a81adad9b0e260bb4a468588493a06bf157fc64c.jpg?s=100&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/06/gettyimages-1208728966_sq-a81adad9b0e260bb4a468588493a06bf157fc64c.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="webp" class="img lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/06/gettyimages-1208728966_sq-a81adad9b0e260bb4a468588493a06bf157fc64c.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/06/gettyimages-1208728966_sq-a81adad9b0e260bb4a468588493a06bf157fc64c.jpg?s=100&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/06/gettyimages-1208728966_sq-a81adad9b0e260bb4a468588493a06bf157fc64c.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="img lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /><img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/06/gettyimages-1208728966_sq-a81adad9b0e260bb4a468588493a06bf157fc64c.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/06/gettyimages-1208728966_sq-a81adad9b0e260bb4a468588493a06bf157fc64c.jpg?s=100&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2020/04/06/gettyimages-1208728966_sq-a81adad9b0e260bb4a468588493a06bf157fc64c.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="img lazyOnLoad" alt="In Naples, Pandemic 'Solidarity Baskets' Help Feed The Homeless" loading="lazy" /></picture></a> <div class="bucketblock"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/series/812054919/the-coronavirus-crisis">The Coronavirus Crisis </a></h3> <h3><a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/04/07/828021259/in-naples-pandemic-solidarity-baskets-help-feed-the-homeless" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"story_recirculation_click","clickType":"inset box","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2020\/04\/07\/828021259\/in-naples-pandemic-solidarity-baskets-help-feed-the-homeless"}' >In Naples, Pandemic 'Solidarity Baskets' Help Feed The Homeless</a></h3> </div>  </div>  </div>  <p>"The customer who has something leaves something for those who don't," she says.</p> <p>The store usually doubles the amount donated and provides food that does not spoil fast — such as pasta and canned goods — to a local aid group, <a href="https://www.santegidio.org">the Sant'Egidio Community,</a> that distributes it to the needy. Buccilli says one customer wanted specifically to donate a kilo of oranges to a needy family, so Buccilli sent the aid group a crate of oranges.</p> <p>Suspended shopping is an act of charity in which the donor doesn't show off and the recipient doesn't have to show gratitude.</p> <p>With Italy's economy in suspension, the custom is being broadened with a view to the future.</p> <p>Puntarella Rossa, a website for foodies, recently launched <em>il calice sospeso,</em> the "<a href="https://www.puntarellarossa.it/2020/04/02/il-calice-sospeso-per-aiutare-le-enoteche-di-roma-aderisci-con-il-puntarella-rossa-wine-club-e-dona-a-intersos/">suspended wine glass</a>" — an initiative to help Rome's wine bars in shutdown.</p> <p>Visitors pick a wine bar and pay, by bank transfer, 10 euros for a glass of wine or 25 euros ($27) for a bottle — to be consumed when the bar opens again.</p> <p>"We did it as a way to help these businesses economically," says <a href="https://www.puntarellarossa.it/author/livia-belardelli/">Livia Belardelli</a>, the site's wine blogger, "but also as a way to help customers stay in touch with their favorite wine bars."</p> <p>Since April 1, Belardelli says, more than 150 customers have paid for wine-in-waiting at some 30 wine bars.</p> <aside id="ad-secondary-wrap" class="ad-wrap secondary" aria-label="advertisement"> <div class="ad-header "><span>Sponsor Message</span></div> <div id="ad-secondary-News_World" class="ad-config ad-secondary has-refresh-enabled" data-ad-config='{"network":"\/6735\/","site":{"desktop":"NPRSecondary","mobile":"NPRMobileSecondary"},"zone":"News_World","targets":{"testserver":"false","isPodcastEpisode":"false","storyId":"842891052","program":"Morning_Edition","agg":["812054919","434975886","816541428"],"blog":"816541428"},"location":"secondary","deferred":false,"isBetweenContent":true,"overflowCount":null,"hasRefreshEnabled":true,"isOutstreamVideoEnabled":false}'></div> <div class="ad-footer "></div> </aside> <p>Manuela Mazzotta, who runs a hair salon and wedding planning business, has come up with another new initiative. With her businesses on hold, she started a Facebook page on March 20 with the hashtag #AdottaUnNegozio, "adopt a shop."</p> <p>"The customer buys a gift card now, when shops are shut down," she explains. "That helps us owners pay the rent or utility bills and tide us over until the reopening. And," she adds, "put us in a better mood than our current sense of desperation."</p> <p>Within 48 hours, she got applications for listings from shops from all over Italy.</p> <p>Pay for something now and get it after lockdown: It's one way to help shopkeepers from going bankrupt and, at the end of the virus tunnel, return to business — almost as usual.</p> </div> <div class="tags"> <ul> <li><a class="tag tag--story"href="https://www.npr.org/tags/126937512/italy">Italy</a></li> <li><a class="tag tag--story"href="https://www.npr.org/tags/132031318/shopping">Shopping</a></li> <li><a class="tag tag--story"href="https://www.npr.org/tags/162395868/coronavirus">coronavirus</a></li> </ul> </div>  <div class="share-tools share-tools--secondary" aria-label="Share tools"> <ul> <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--facebook"><button class="fbStory842891052" data-share-facebook='{"storyId": "842891052" }' data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"share","action":"share","clickName":"facebook"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Facebook</b></button></li> <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--flipboard"><button class="story842891052" data-share-flipboard='{"storyId": "842891052" }' data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"share","action":"share","clickName":"flipboard"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Flipboard</b></button></li> <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--email"><button class='share-tools__email-link' data-story-id='842891052' data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"share","action":"share","clickName":"email"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Email</b></button></li> </ul> </div>  <div id="newsletter-acquisition-callout-data" data-newsletter="{"newsletterId":"news","title":"Up First","marketingHeader":"Sign Up For NPR's Up First Newsletter","frequency":"every day","shortDescription":"The stories you need to start your day, hand-picked for you every weekday. 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In Italy, 'Suspended Shopping' Helps Those Facing Economic Hardship During Pandemic : Coronavirus Updates : NPR