The campaign is launched amid a period when the “poverty rate in Portugal remains very high,” according to Isabel Jonet, president of the Portuguese Federation of Food Banks Against Hunger.
The campaign’s motto, aimed at improving the lives of families in need, is “Your help has a name: the name of the person who will receive it,” highlights the Food Bank in a statement today.
Volunteers distribute Food Bank bags in participating stores to those willing to help those most in need, requesting donations of “non-perishable food items,” such as milk, canned goods, olive oil, sugar, flour, and pasta.
The products will then be sent to the Food Bank warehouses in the respective region, where they will be weighed, sorted, and prepared for delivery to beneficiary entities, similarly to previous campaigns.
Participation can also be done through the “Ajuda Vale” modality, already used in previous campaigns, which involves contributions via product vouchers available at supermarket checkouts until June 8.
“At a time when the situation is very difficult for many families, the Food Bank campaign raises awareness of a reality often ignored and mobilizes society for a cause greater than any individual. The sharing of basic foodstuffs has a real impact on real people,” emphasizes the president.
Isabel Jonet notes that the “poverty rate in Portugal remains very high, with many elderly living alone, and the cost of housing represents a large share of already stretched budgets, putting people who have jobs but do not earn enough to cover all expenses in a vulnerable position.”
Last year, the 21 Food Banks provided food to over 360,000 people with proven food shortages, in partnership with 2,300 social organizations, delivering more than 100 tons of food per working day, totaling 27,800 tons delivered throughout the year.
