1,300 volunteers unite across Moldova for Table of Joy Easter campaign
The Diaconia Social Mission successfully mobilized over 1,300 volunteers on Saturday for its 17th annual "Masa Bucuriei" (Table of Joy) national food drive.
The initiative spanned approximately 160 retail locations across Moldova, aiming to provide warm meals and essential supplies to the country’s most vulnerable demographics during the Easter season.
A nationwide logistical expansion
This year’s campaign marked a significant 50% increase in collection points outside the capital, Chișinău. According to Igor Belei, Executive Director of Diaconia, the organization aims to surpass last year’s total of 85 tons of donated food.
"Today we are operating in nearly 160 collection hubs," Belei stated. "We hope to exceed 100 tons of food products, allowing us to reach a significantly higher number of families in need."
Strategic focus on food security
Donors contributed essential shelf-stable staples, including flour, grains, vegetable oil, and canned goods. While items collected in Chișinău are primarily used for daily warm meal programs, donations from other regions are distributed as food packages to local families.
Volunteers like Ana Luca, now in her second year with the mission, emphasized the importance of civic engagement. "I choose to dedicate my personal time to inviting people to contribute," Luca explained. "Ultimately, these staples are transformed into vital support for elderly citizens."
Seventeen years of social impact
The "Masa Bucuriei" campaign remains Moldova's largest national volunteering event. By bridging the gap between urban resources and rural needs, Diaconia continues to strengthen social cohesion through structured, transparent philanthropy.
As the drive concludes, the focus shifts to the rapid distribution of these resources to ensure that thousands of households can observe the upcoming holidays with food security and dignity.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
