Moldovan Food Bank campaign aims to reduce food waste and help those in need
Hundreds of people in Moldova who are struggling to make ends meet will be able to enjoy hot lunches throughout the year. Today, volunteers from the Food Bank Association distributed leaflets and encouraged shoppers at several markets in Chisinau, Balti, Ungheni, and Orhei to donate food to those in need. As part of this campaign, organisers are working to reduce food waste by transferring surplus food to those who often go hungry.
"I donated some canned food, cereal, and flour. It is very important to help people in need. We also donate to the people in need on the street and who are standing at the stores, we buy products and give them to them," said one shopper.
"Cornmeal, wheat flour, oil, and a can of pate. There are people who are more in need than me, even though I am not rich, so they need to be helped," said another shopper.
"It is very important, it is both a help and an education for young people, we care about everyone," said a third shopper.
"Vegetables, potatoes, onions, rice, the essentials. I think it is a very good gesture. In general, the possibility of helping people in need, especially on the eve of the holidays, depends on the social involvement of each individual," said a fourth shopper.
Packages of non-perishable food items such as sugar, cereals, pasta, canned goods, and vegetables can be left in special boxes. The products will then be delivered to social canteens where they will be used to prepare hot lunches for people in need.
The products were collected in four municipalities: Chisinau, Balti, Ungheni, and Orhei. In total, six thousand people from all over the country will benefit from hot lunches.
"The Food Bank prevents food waste by keeping the product in the food wholesale chain, but the products that we collect daily from businesses are not enough to meet the needs of all social services. The products that are collected today, which are non-perishable, help us to replenish the Food Bank's stock and then come to the services throughout the year," said Oleg Paraschiv, executive director of the Food Bank.
The campaign, with the tagline "Less Waste, More Good," is in its fourth edition. Last year, three thousand kilograms of food were collected as part of the campaign.
