The country’s largest food collection campaign is here

Every year since 2006, the Food Bank has been organizing its Christmas non-perishable food collection drive, which over the years has grown into one of the biggest domestic celebrations of solidarity and togetherness.

334 places in the country

The collection will take place between November 18 and 20, from Friday to Sunday, in the stores of four retail chains, Tesco, ALDI, Auchan and METRO, at 334 locations across the country. Donations can be dropped off at the Food Bank’s green vest-wearing volunteers at designated collection points near the cash registers. Donations are accepted on Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

“Unfortunately, we meet more and more new faces, previously unknown visitors among the needy at our food distributions. Also with people who even made an offer for the less fortunate last year, but this year they are in need of help themselves. Perishable food packages can be a huge support for them, so that they can break out of their difficult situation. With our volunteers, we are asking customers for their help during the three-day campaign, so that no one’s plate is left empty during the holidays,” said Balázs Cseh, president of the Food Bank.

The way of donation packages

With their donations, customers can directly help people with a difficult fate in their surroundings. The Food Bank distributes the collected food to the needy in the period before the holidays and during the coldest weeks of January with the help of charitable organizations operating in the vicinity of individual stores. For those in need, canned goods, rice, biscuits, chocolate, baby food, pasta, long-lasting milk and sweets are the greatest help, as well as any food that does not require refrigeration. Tesco also provides financial support during the three days in addition to the customers’ offers. With an amount equal to 20% of the value of the products donated in its stores, it supports the Food Bank’s year-round food rescue work. And for those who cannot personally visit any of the stores during the weekend, but would like to help with the collection, the Tesco Otthonról service offers the opportunity to donate. With a few clicks on their website, you can buy donation packages for needy families until the end of the month. The Food Bank is confident that, following the three-day collaboration, it will be able to alleviate the food problems and make the holiday of thousands of needy people more beautiful with a significant amount of donations. The donations will mainly help the elderly, large families, family support services and children’s homes, people with disabilities, the homeless and residents of the country’s most disadvantaged settlements.

The Food Bank’s Christmas fundraiser in numbers

• last year, the customers of the stores donated 223 kilos of food every minute of the three-day campaign;
• more than 100,000 people offered small or large donations for our compatriots in difficult circumstances;
• with their help, a record result of 348,000, i.e. three hundred and forty-eight thousand kilos, was achieved;
• from which the organizers were able to put together food packages to help 70,000 needy people;
• this year, 6,500 volunteers in 334 stores in 160 settlements of the country will accept donations at the collection points set up next to the cash registers;
• the list of stores participating in the promotion can be found here.