Food banks in Spain and how you can support them

Did you know that 1.5 million people per year are provided with basic foods by food banks in Spain? 

Sadly, these vulnerable people are unable to put food on their tables and without the important work of the national network of food banks they would go hungry. 

Spain’s Federation of Food Banks is called FESBAL. They have a network of 55 food banks to help people all over the country. Many of you will have seen them during last month’s Gran Recogida campaign, where volunteers collect food in the major supermarket chains. This is the charity’s most high profile campaign during the year, and is a very important time for them to restock the food banks. Volunteers were collecting food in over 11,000 locations throughout Spain and overall they collected 21 million kilos of food across the country. An incredible result! 

However, the need for food never stops and the food banks want to make sure that the awareness of the charity and the collections continue in the run up to Christmas. So we’ve been working with our client Specsavers Ópticas to set up their own collection. This has been rolled out across all Specsavers stores on the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and Mallorca and they would really appreciate any donations you can spare. 

The only thing to remember is that the food needs to be easy to store and distribute and last until it is needed. Each food bank has different needs and has provided us with particular foods that they are lacking in the run up to Christmas.

Below are the list of stores, regional food banks they are collaborating with and what they need. If you could put a few extra items in your trolly next time you’re in the supermarket and drop them into your nearest Specsavers before the end of the year we’d really appreciate it. Thanks!! 

The Specsavers Ópticas stores on the Costa Blanca are collaborating with the food bank for the Alicante province (Banco de Alimentos Alicante) to ensure the food donations get to those people who really need them. They are particularly in need of the following non-perishable foods and toiletries – oil, tinned foods, baby food, nappies, formula milk, toothpaste, deodorant, bath gel, shampoo and soap. These products can be dropped into Specsavers Ópticas in Javea, Calpe, Benidorm, Torrevieja, Guardamar and La Zenia until the end of the year.

Specsavers Ópticas in Santa Ponca is collaborating with Mallorca’s Food Bank (Banco de Alimentos de Mallorca). This food bank has asked for donations of the following non-perishable foods – flour, oil, tinned food and meals, beans and pulses and baby food. 

The Specsavers Ópticas stores on the Costa del Sol are collaborating with Bancosol, the food bank for the Malaga province. Bancosol are particularly in need of the following non-perishable foods – oil, milk, tinned foods and meals, beans and pulses. These products can be dropped into Specsavers Ópticas in Fuengirola or Marbella. You can find them on Avenida Ramon y Cajal 6 in Fuengirola, by the bus station, or on Avenida Ricardo Soriano 12, next to Massimo Dutti.

The directors of these nine opticians are asking for donations of food and toiletries in return for their free eye test and encouraging anyone who recently had a free eye test to also join the collection and bring in some food to donate between the 25^th of November and the end of the year. Visit www.specsavers.es to find your nearest store.