The childhood home of the late Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has been transformed into a soup kitchen to assist residents in the Fiorito suburb of Buenos Aires. Located at 523 Amazor Street, the facility provides meals and clothing to neighbors facing extreme hardship.
Volunteers prepare food in large cauldrons in the yard, distributing chicken stew and other meals to those arriving with containers. Cumbia music plays in the background as locals gather at the site once defined by the 'Golden Boy's' early poverty.
Relief amid economic shifts
The kitchen serves a community of roughly 50,000 residents, many of whom are struggling following President Javier Milei’s implementation of radical free-market reforms. While official statistics suggest some poverty reduction through lower inflation, Central Bank reports indicate family finances remain in crisis.
Diego Gavilan, a local scrap metal collector, began relying on the kitchen after the December 2023 election. "You can’t make ends meet," Gavilan said.
Gavilan noted the symbolic nature of the assistance, recalling the legend's history with the area. "He suffered so much hunger here as a child. For the people of the neighbourhood to receive a plate of food is special," he said.
He added that the mission aligns with the late player's values: "Diego would say there is a lot of hunger and we have to help, because the need is so great."
The facility operates without a dining hall, relying on open fires to cook. Workers distribute food in bags to those waiting at the entrance.
Maria Torres, one of the center's cooks, said the repurposing of the home is a direct response to current local hunger. "People are going hungry," Torres said.