"We always contribute what we can": starting signal for the Great Food Drive for new poverties

BarcelonaThe first impressions are very good. This Friday, the Food Bank launched the Gran Recapte solidarity campaign, and it has done so with momentum. At collection points such as the one at the Clot Market in Barcelona, one can already see boxes full of canned food, milk, or broth. The volunteers, identified by a blue or green vest, are attentive to inform the citizens passing by and to encourage them to make a gesture of solidarity, whether through the contribution of a food product or through financial donations. And the responses they receive are very positive: "We always contribute what we can," explains Montse Ventura, a regular donor. With individual contributions like hers, great goals are achieved: the collection point at the Clot Market is just one of more than 2,000 spread throughout Catalonia, which will provide help to 170,000 people in a situation of vulnerability.

This is the 18th edition of the campaign, which is jointly promoted by the food banks of Barcelona, Lleida, Tarragona, and Girona, with the unconditional support of 15,000 volunteers. Its trajectory guarantees the resilience of the solidarity initiative, but also its necessity: "The social situation is worsening," laments Elisabet Viladomiu, director of the entity in Barcelona. She is referring to the statistics on poverty and social exclusion and to the sustained growth of food prices, which has already exceeded 32% in five years, according to data from the Food Bank. Furthermore, her diagnosis also takes into account the gauge of hundreds of social entities that are in direct contact with the neighborhoods where they intervene. In fact, at the start of the campaign, the Minister of Social Rights and Inclusion, Raúl Moreno, detailed that 24% of the Catalan population is at risk of social exclusion and insisted on the need to "guarantee a food network." The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, also did so, lamenting that there are people "who struggle to make ends meet," despite working. "It is the great invisible challenge" that exists today, he assured.

Making precariousness visible

This year the focus has been placed on a specific group: the new poor. This includes families who, despite having work, do not have enough resources to cover basic needs, such as food. Thus, food will be collected between Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14, but online donations can be made until the 29th. The monetary calculation of the 2025 collection ended up with 5.2 million euros. It is still too early to make estimates, but Viladomiu is optimistic about the initial impressions and the numbers of mobilized volunteers. But the Great Collection goes further: it is an action of “awareness and mobilization” that “gives visibility to precariousness,” he insists.

The solidarity campaign would not be possible without the thousands of volunteers who participate in it. This is the case of Eduard Fornés, a resident of Barcelona who is participating for the first time. “I see that people are having a hard time,” he explains. “That’s why I signed up.” At the Clot Market, last year they filled a total of four boxes during the two days of collection. This year, in a few hours they have already filled an entire one, the volunteer celebrates. One finds above all canned legumes and fish, rice, cartons of milk or broth, and bottles of oil.

Starting this Saturday and during the following days, the tasks of sorting the collected food will begin in order to distribute it to the collaborating entities. It is expected that the provisions will be sufficient to guarantee food for the people assisted by the Food Bank for 2 or 3 months. However, financial donations can be made until November 29 on the website Granrecapte.org, via Bizum 33596, or by phone by calling 900 898 076. Also through the Diari ARA Solidarity Supermarket, where one can choose and digitally purchase a food product.