The largest food drive in the country’s history

240 kilos of donations every minute for three days; more than 100,000 well-intentioned donors; 374 tons of help; a total of 75,000 holiday packages for those in need – these were the cornerstones of the Food Bank’s Christmas food collection last year. Over the years, the campaign has grown into one of the biggest national celebrations of solidarity and cooperation, and this year it is expected to reach a new level. In addition to the Tesco, Aldi, Auchan and Metro stores that host the campaign every year, donations can now also be made in Lidl stores this year, and the number of collection points has increased by almost a third. A total of 8,800 green-vest volunteers will receive donations from customers in 473 stores in 159 settlements across the country.

Half a thousand donation points across the country

Similar to the collections of the past 20 years, the organizers are asking everyone this year to put a non-perishable food item of their choice in their basket for those in need when shopping this weekend, which they can drop off at the collection points behind the checkouts. Donations can be made on Fridays between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM, on Saturdays between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM, and on Sundays between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

“We hear more and more often on weekdays that one person cannot make a big difference in the world. But these fundraising weekends show that small gestures can add up to a huge amount of support. We have been organizing similar campaigns for twenty years, as a result of which we have been able to distribute more than nine hundred thousand food packages, each weighing 4-5 kilos. We hope that this year we will have the one millionth. All that is needed for this is for no one to underestimate what they can contribute to our collection. We can feed hope with a single can or a bar of chocolate”

– said András Nagygyörgy, the Food Bank’s director of external relations.

For those in need, canned food, rice, pasta and matching sauces, baby food, jams, preserves and other sweets are the greatest help, as well as any food that does not require refrigeration. In larger Tesco stores, you can also buy pre-prepared donation packages, with which supporters can provide a festive dinner for a family of four in need.

Let’s put charity on our shopping list!

“Unfortunately, many families will have to receive Christmas packages in November, as the need does not wait until the holidays. However, this does not reduce the significance of our donations, on the contrary. Perhaps in these cases, our cooperation is the greatest help”

– said András Nagygyörgy.

Customers can directly support those in need in their environment with their donations. The Food Bank distributes the collected food to those in need with the help of charitable organizations operating in the vicinity of the stores. The grants benefit the elderly, large families, residents of children’s homes, the disabled, the homeless, and those living in the most underdeveloped settlements of the country.