Food banks launch Gran Recapte to combat rising poverty in Catalunya

Food banks in Catalunya began the 18th edition of Gran Recapte, a large-scale solidarity event designed to provide food for vulnerable people.

The initiative addresses "new poverties," a term used by food banks to describe people who struggle to make ends meet despite having jobs due to rising housing costs and food prices. More than 2,100 food establishments across Catalunya participated in the event by offering options for people to donate food or money.

These locations include approximately 30 supermarket chains, as well as local shops and municipal markets. The donations will be sorted and distributed to social entities that provide the final delivery to those in need. Over 13,500 volunteers gathered across the region to encourage donations at these locations. Elisabet Viladomiu, the director of Banc dels Aliments de Barcelona, noted that rising prices make it harder for traditional donors to contribute this year.

The food banks expect the collected goods to provide supplies for roughly two months to support the 170,000 people they serve every month. Donors can also contribute remotely through a website, a dedicated telephone line, or a mobile payment application. Additionally, the newspaper La Vanguardia participated by reopening its solidarity supermarket to collect donations.