Donate to Czech food banks at grocery stores nationwide this weekend

The autumn round of the Food Collection (Sbirka Potravin) will take place tomorrow, Saturday, November 20, 2021. Organized by the Czech Federation of Food Banks, the event allows customers to donate durable food or drugstore items in more than 1,300 stores throughout the Czech Republic from 8 am to 6 pm. In addition, from November 16-30, food and drugstores can also be donated through online purchases.

A recent Ipsos survey shows that more and more people are giving to food banks. It's also clear that awareness of food banks among Czechs is on the rise. In addition, the public has long appreciated that food banks hold food collections even in these difficult times. 

Increasingly, people are recognizing that food donations are a good way to avoid wasting food. 

"The role of food banks is crucial in this regard and Czechs would appreciate more opportunities to get involved. Groups that are most at risk of food and drug shortages during the pandemic are single mothers and seniors," said Veronika Láchová, Executive Director of the Czech Federation of Food Banks.

Canned food, baby food, dried soup mixes, cooking oil, rice, pasta, and children's toiletries are the foods that organizers say help most.

The autumn outing of the national food collection drive will take place at all major retail chains. This year, it's possible to donate food in a record number of stores, 1,318 across the country. 

In addition, employees of retail chains in 310 stores will be involved in the preparation and successful implementation of the food drive.

The food collection has been held twice a year since 2019, but last year the spring round was canceled due to a coronavirus epidemic. According to organizers, food collection will take place under stricter anti-epidemic measures.

To make a donation, see the map of participating locations. Selected stores of Albert, Billa, DM, Globus, Kaufland, Lidl, Makro, Penny, Rossmann, Tesco, and online stores  Košík.cz,  Rohlík.cz , and iTesco will participate.

The food drive works by asking shoppers to add durable groceries or drugstore items to their purchases and hand them over to volunteers at the checkout. You can also shop from home and make your contribution online.

Organizers say that more and more people are finding themselves in a difficult life situation due to the almost two-year coronavirus crisis. The collected food is sent through regional food banks directly to consumer non-profit organizations that help, abandoned seniors, single mothers, families in crisis, homeless people, or those with mental and physical disabilities.