Algarve food bank, Banco Alimentar do Algarve, has been distinguished in the 11th edition of the MSD Maria José Nogueira Pinto award. The ceremony took place at the Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira, in Lisbon, and was attended by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Republic, and Manuel Pizarro, Minister of Health.
The fourth largest food bank in the country won with a project that aims to improve the distribution of food to the most needy in the Algarve region.
The project, «E-Integrar» appears within the scope of the Associação Pró-Partilha e Inserção do Algarve, with the purpose of boosting the Algarve Food Bank.
This project will receive €15,000 thousand that will be used to build a digital platform for managing and distributing food support, with the aim of meeting the population's essential needs, without them having to expose themselves.
«E-Integrar» allows the food bank to cross-reference all the information of those interested in receiving support, ensuring that the food reaches those who really need it. Furthermore, the project aims to impose greater justice and equity in the distribution of food.
In collaboration with the University of Algarve, the Algarve Health Administration and the Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences of the University of Porto, «E-Integrar» takes into account the nutritional criteria of foods, in order to prepare healthier baskets .
Nuno Cabrita Alves, president of the BAA, emphasized that this is "a victory that highlights the work of Banco Alimentar do Algarve and highlights its position in the country. It is important to thank all the partners, institutions and volunteers who have always supported Banco Alimentar do Algarve", he said.
Seasonal work linked to tourism, low wages and rising inflation have led to an increase in requests for help from the Algarve Food Bank. "We count, more than ever, on the support of volunteers to be able to support the thousands of families in need in the Algarve region", appealed Nuno Cabrita Alves.
At the moment, the Algarve Food Bank helps 22,500 people, a number that way exceeds the 15,500 people who were being supported in the pre-covid-19 pandemic period.
