Over 28,000 volunteers aim for most successful ‘Gran Recapte’ food drive ever

On Friday and Saturday, around 28,200 volunteers will be present in almost 3,000 collection points, mostly supermarkets, across the country, gathering food for the socially vulnerable. This year sees the 11th edition of the ‘Gran Recapte’ food drive, and organizers want to surpass the 4,500 tonnes of food collected last year.

This year, the food bank is extending the initiative of using reusable fabric bags rather than the cardboard containers, as they opt for a more environmentally-conscious approach. 

Also new this year is the ability to raise fresh produce for those in need, after the test run last year. Donators can purchase tickets for €3 that the food bank can exchange for meat, fish, or eggs. 

Apart from this, the ‘Gran Recapte’ urges people to donate non-perishable goods such oil, canned food, and milk. 

As well as pitching in with food donations in person at stores and collection points, you can also help out by donating money online via their website. 

Lluís Fatjó-Vilas, director of the Food Bank Foundation, said that the non-perishable goods that the ‘Gran Recapte’ always aims for are “basic and essential products, that when used with other day-to-day products will cover the needs of 196,000 people who need food banks for three months all across Catalonia.” 

“It’s a way of helping people,” said Maribel Tortajada, a volunteer picking up donations in a supermarket. “For me it comes from the heart.”