Catalonia collects more than 4,000 tonnes of food for people in need

The ‘Gran Recapte’ food drive, Catalonia’s campaign to help gather food for the socially vulnerable, has managed to collect more than 4,000 tonnes of food, according to provisional figures. On Friday and Saturday, around 28,200 volunteers were present in almost 3,000 collection point, mostly supermarkets.

The ‘Gran Recapte’ urged people to donate non-perishable goods such oil, canned food, and milk. This year the food bank extended the initiative of using reusable fabric bags rather than cardboard containers, as they opted for a more environmentally-conscious approach. Also new this year was the possibility to raise fresh produce for those in need. Donators could purchase tickets for €3 that the food bank can exchange for meat, fish, or eggs.

As well as pitching in with food donations in person at stores and collection points, you can also help out by donating money online via their website. Lluís Fatjó-Vilas, director of the Food Bank Foundation, said that the non-perishable goods will cover the needs of 196,000 people who need food banks for three months all across Catalonia. “It’s a way of helping people,” said Maribel Tortajada, a volunteer picking up donations in a supermarket. “For me it comes from the heart.”