The Food Banks Network has transformed since its establishment more than 39,000 tonnes of products into over 76 million meals, distributed to 325,000 vulnerable people through partner organisations, according to an analysis by the Federation of Food Banks in Romania (FBAR).
"Romania remains trapped in a scenario of extremes: we rank among the leading countries in Europe for food waste, with more than 3.45 million tonnes of food discarded in 2022 (Eurostat), while almost 28 per cent of Romanians live at risk of poverty (Eurostat, 2024). In this fractured landscape, FBAR operates as a structured mechanism of solidarity, with both logistical and social roles, becoming a bridge between surplus and people - a circuit of good within the social assistance system," the statement reads.
According to the federation, in an ordinary warehouse a pallet of goods with damaged packaging is often considered an accounting "loss", but in the "solidarity economy" it becomes a vital resource.
"For the 930 partner associations within the Food Banks network, every food donation means more than nourishment; it means stability and support for those most in need. When food is no longer a daily concern, people can look further - towards education, healthcare and real steps towards a life lived with dignity and hope," the release adds.
Organisation representatives stress that, although the mechanism is essentially logistical, it generates real impact in the lives of individuals and communities. The food bank collects surplus from companies and distributes it free of charge to partner NGOs.
"The real impact can also be seen in the accounts of associations, where the resources freed up through food support change destinies. One of the most telling examples comes from Iasi," the release notes.
Representatives of the Emmaus Foundation explained, in data provided to the federation, how the partnership with the Regional Food Bank radically changed the way they manage their funds.
"Before collaborating with the Food Bank, weekly meal expenses amounted to around 1,750 lei. Now, with a maximum cost of 50 lei per day, we manage to provide a varied, nutritionally balanced menu with a high vitamin content. Beyond balanced meals, your support has enabled us to allocate a larger budget to the vocational training of beneficiaries," the Emmaus Foundation said.
Thus, a food donation is indirectly transformed into an opportunity for vulnerable young people to learn a trade and integrate into society.
For children attending day centres, the products received are not only a hot meal but also a teaching tool. The Pro Educatione Foundation, which provides meals for 60 pupils, highlighted a shift in mindset among the children: "Our collaboration with the Food Bank and partner shops gives pupils the chance to take responsibility for their future, to value goods and, above all, to learn to avoid food waste through responsible behaviour."
For other organisations, consistent food support is essential to maintaining activity, particularly in a difficult economic context. It contributes to the continuity of social programmes and to organisations' ability to respond to the needs of vulnerable communities. The Pacea Humanitarian Foundation underlined the importance of this assistance: "Of our monthly consumption, 80 per cent of products are provided by the Food Bank."
A similar reality is reported in Galati, where the Foundation for the Support of the Elderly described donations as "a source of strength to carry on in these very difficult times". For elderly people living alone, a food parcel is often their only human interaction and proof that they have not been forgotten by the community.
Peak moments such as the National Easter and Christmas Food Collections generate a large influx of resources and allow NGOs to expand their operational capacity and reach more vulnerable people.
Representatives of SIB PAX, a Romanian non-governmental organisation involved in charitable and community support activities, underlined the effectiveness of these campaigns. "The Christmas Collection materialised in a spectacular campaign distributing around 500 food parcels," they said.
At present, through its partner organisations, the Food Banks Network supports 325,000 vulnerable people, for whom access to food remains a daily necessity.
The Federation of Food Banks in Romania (FBAR) and the nine Regional Food Banks in Bucharest, Cluj, Roman, Brasov, Oradea, Timisoara, Constanta, Craiova and Galati form a national network of solidarity that rescues food from waste every day and turns it into real support for vulnerable communities. FBAR is a member of the European Food Banks Federation (FEBA) and, since 2016, has saved more than 39,000 tonnes of products, transformed into over 76 million meals distributed through 930 partner NGOs to 325,000 vulnerable people
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