In a statement, the BA explains that "this solidarity action, well known to the Portuguese," is an "invitation to share food with those who need it most, so that they can have a more dignified life."

“The mechanics of participating in the campaign are simple and well-known to the Portuguese: during the weekend of November 29th and 30th, simply accept the invitation from one of the more than 41,000 volunteers, distributed across more than 2,000 stores, place non-perishable food products (milk, canned goods, olive oil, sugar, flour, pasta) in the Food Bank bag and share them with those who need them most,” says the statement.

The campaign, which runs until December 7th through the website www.alimentestaideia.pt and the purchase of product vouchers available at supermarket checkouts, “calls for participation in this real social network that is renewed to help bring food to those in need with food donations.”

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Quoted in the press release, the president of the Portuguese Federation of Food Banks Against Hunger, Isabel Jonet, explains that the donated products will then be sent to the warehouses of the 21 Food Banks from north to south of the country, where they are weighed, sorted, and packaged.

“The result is distributed locally to people in need of food, through more than 2,400 charities, previously selected and monitored in their daily activities,” says the manager.

According to available information, the 21 Food Banks distributed 27,448 tons of food last year (with an estimated value of 45 million euros) to 2,400 institutions, with the food being delivered to nearly 380,000 people with proven food needs, in the form of food baskets or prepared meals.

The Food Bank was created in Portugal in 1991 with the mission of fighting food waste and distributing support to those most in need of food, in partnership with charities and based on volunteer work.

Currently there are 21 Food Banks (in the areas of Abrantes, Algarve, Aveiro, Beja, Braga, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Cova da Beira, Évora, Leiria-Fátima, Lisbon, Madeira, West Zone, Portalegre, Porto, São Miguel, Santarém, Setúbal, Terceira, Viana do Castelo and Viseu).