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Catalonia’s Food Drive Set to Surpass 1 Million Kilos as Spain’s Food Banks Confront Prolonged Donation Slump

Inflation together with tighter aid rules is pushing a pivot to cash donations.

Overview

  • Banc dels Aliments reports a positive provisional balance from the weekend’s Gran Recapte and says supermarket collections could exceed 1,000 tonnes, with online giving open through November 23.
  • About 15,800 volunteers staffed roughly 2,000 collection points across Catalonia, with thousands of kilos now being sorted at logistics hubs in Barcelona for rapid distribution.
  • In Galicia, the Banco de Alimentos Rías Altas says in-kind donations have fallen 40% since 2021, forcing more purchases and lowering the quality of items families receive.
  • Food banks describe a steady shift in demand that now includes people with jobs who cannot consistently afford groceries.
  • Sector leaders cite the EU’s 2023 move from in-kind deliveries to cash managed in Spain by Cruz Roja, with eligibility limits that leave gaps, alongside higher grocery prices and volunteer shortfalls.