The Food Bank of Moldova has improved its activity thanks to the support of the European Union

During a public event held on 24 January, the European Union donated two transport units that will make the operation of the Food Bank more efficient. They are two specialised cars equipped with refrigeration systems that will make possible the safe distribution of perishable food products collected by the Bank for social services throughout the country.

This support was provided within the framework of the "Partnerships for inclusive and resilient social canteen services" project, which aims to develop social canteen services in the country.

The Food Bank represents a mechanism practiced at international level through which surplus food products safe for consumption that are at risk of being thrown away by operators in the agri-food chain are donated to the Bank. These products are then distributed to social services providing food support to people from vulnerable groups.

"The Food Bank is an innovative mechanism through which we aimed to reduce food waste and the number of people affected by hunger and malnutrition. We appreciate the fact that the European Union supports the people from vulnerable groups. Today's gesture, but also the complex support - part of the project, capacitates the Bank and contributes to the creation of an extremely necessary cooperation platform in the current social context",

said Igor Belei, Executive Director of I.R.M.S. Diaconia.

Until 2024, within the project, the Bank's operating costs are financially covered. At the same time, with the support of the project, an online platform will be created that will improve the functioning capacity of the Food Bank. Through the platform, food donors will be able to indicate the quantity of products available, and social services will be able to access them according to their regional location. Currently, the Bank collaborates with 30 social services in the country, and in the next two years their number will be doubled and around 5,000 people with low incomes will have food thanks to the recovered food.

"Statistics show that the majority of people who use social canteens are elderly or people with disabilities. For these beneficiaries, the lunch offered by the social canteen is the only hot meal of the day. In this context, it is essential to utilise every opportunity to reduce the food insecurity of vulnerable groups",

said Ludmila Malcoci, Executive Director of Keystone Moldova.

The implementation period of the project "Partnerships for inclusive and resilient social canteen services" is 01.01.202231.12.2024, the total amount being around €1.3 million.