EUROZONE-GREECE/FREE FOOD Greek pensioners receive free bread from Athens bakery while banks stay closed

Record ID: 148463

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/FREE FOOD Greek pensioners receive free bread from Athens bakery while banks stay closed
  • Date: 4th July 2015
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JULY 4, 2015) (REUTERS) OMONIA SQUARE VARIOUS EXTERIOR OF BAKERY OFFERING FREE BREAD FOR PENSIONERS BAKERY'S OUTDOOR CAFE INTERIOR OF BAKERY/BREAD ON DISPLAY/ ELDERLY MAN WALKING INSIDE (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) MANAGING DIRECTOR OF VENETIS BAKERY, PANAGIOTIS MONEMVASSIOTIS, SAYING: "Yesterday was the first day. Fifteen thousand people were given free bread in ou
  • Embargoed: 19th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACHBQTV4XPJ9Y2L5YWMV214Y3D
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: One of Greece's biggest bakery chains has decided to hand bread to Greek pensioners currently affected by the capital controls imposed by the government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
    The Venetis chain, founded in 1948, says it will be donating the freshly-baked bread to pensioners, the unemployed and the destitute for the duration of the enforced bank holiday.
    Managing Director Panagiotis Monemvassiotis told Reuters it was an act of solidarity and that 15,000 people had collected free bread from the bakery's stores on Friday, the first day of the campaign.
    Unexpectedly, there were no queues of people lining up outside, he said.
    "We haven't seen people standing in queues. They are coming very discreetly, they are a bit shy. Some of them are embarrassed to come in. More and more of them have started to learn about it. I believe many more will come in the next few days," he said.
    Banks were closed on June 28 to prevent massive cash withdrawals ahead of a snap referendum on the European Union bailout on July 5 called by Tsipras after the collapse of talks with Greece's creditors.
    Under the current capital restrictions, Greeks can only withdraw 60 euro per day from banks, while pensioners can take 120.
    Those who don't have cash cards have to bear long waits in line in front of banks to get their money.
    Asked about her current situation and the fact that she has to accept free food, Anna, an 80-year-old pensioner, said she has no other option.
    "How do I get through the week? on nothing. Just on my low pension and I haven't even got that yet."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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