The European Food Banks Federation (FEBA) reacted immediately to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine launching the campaign #AllTogether4Ukraine on 1 March 2022. The campaign aims to support Food Banks in helping the people of Ukraine, in particular FEBA Members in Ukraine, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
The response from FEBA Members, the private sector, and individual citizens has been overwhelming.
FEBA targeted its first wave of interventions on supporting its members in Ukraine, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. FEBA called partners and supporters to donate food and economic resources to the benefit of members who were tirelessly assisting people.
At the same time, the infrastructures of FEBA Members were insufficient to cope with this exceptional situation; hence, FEBA activated itself to reinforce the logistics of these organisations to let them focus on delivering food where most needed.
From 5 to 12 A pril 2022, a FEBA delegation visited Romania, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine to monitor the situation and assess the needs.
In this scenario, FEBA’s goal was to ensure the operational activities and reinforce the logistics of its members while providing food to the people of Ukraine.
From 29 August to 2 September, a FEBA delegation visited Kyiv and Lviv to monitor the situation and develop a plan of increased support beyond the harsh winter.
The plan developed has a twin-track approach: supporting the Ukrainian member by distributing food to where it is most needed and strengthening the Food Bank capacity. The first track consists in purchasing food through the national association of producers in Ukraine to establish a collaboration that guarantees good value for money and supports the local economy. The second track aims to establish a national Federation with solid governance and financial proprietary that coordinates the food distribution to the Food Banks in Kyiv and Lviv.
On 21 October, the Ukrainian Food Banks Federation was established and on 5 December the Board of Directors decided to grant the temporary status (one year) of FEBA Associate Member replacing the Kyiv City Charity Foundation “Food Bank”.
A year has passed since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, and we are still impressed by the overwhelming solidarity of FEBA Members, partners, and individuals who have supported our #AllTogether4Ukraine campaign. This tangible engagement has allowed us to support the day-to-day activity of Food Banks in Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia for the benefit of thousands of Ukrainians.
In this critical situation, Food Banks have never been so necessary and solidarity has never been as important. This crisis is going to be with us for a long time so the in-kind or financial support still remains important as more and more Ukrainians are deeply affected.
At the breakout of the war on 24 February 2022, FEBA reacted immediately. A statement made by Jacques Vandenschrik, FEBA President, was published on 25 February 2022 to support the activity of Food Banks in Ukraine as well as neighbouring countries.
Read More hereFebruary 2022
On 28 February 2022, the Presidents and CEOs of the FEBA network came together online for a Presidents’ Conference on the situation in Ukraine and its neighbouring countries.
February 2022
On 1 March 2022, FEBA launched its campaign #AllTogether4Ukraine, a campaign to raise financial and food donations from members, partners, companies, and individuals. The campaign aims to support Food Banks in helping the people of Ukraine, in particular FEBA Members in Ukraine, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
March 2022
On 2 March 2022, the Food Banks from Cluj, Oradea, and Roman in Romania made their first food deliveries to Ukraine. The Food Banks transported the food to the border where local charities took these goods and redistributed them on the Ukrainian territory.
Read More hereMarch 2022
On 3 March 2022, Banca de Alimente in Moldova became Associate Member of the European Food Banks Federation.
Read More hereMarch 2022
On 7 March, a second Presidents’ Conference was held in order to discuss the ongoing situation and the campaign.
March 2022
On 7 March, Federația Băncilor pentru Alimente din România became Associate Member of the European Food Banks Federation.
Read More hereMarch 2022
On 8 March FEBA stressed the deployment of emergency aid to Ukrainians whilst Food Banks assumed their traditional role and helped charities assisting people in need in these countries.
Read the press releaseMarch 2022
On 14-15 March, FEBA organised two workshops on social media to coordinate and leverage communication.
March 2022
FEBA Secretary General Angela Frigo recorded a podcast with CAF America and Rabih Torbay of Project HOPE to share their experience and provide donors with a deeper understanding of the relief and response landscape.
Read more here.
Listen to the podcastMarch 2022
This document is aimed at informing the European Commission on the challenges and opportunities for members of the European Food Banks Federation deriving from a new crisis due to the flow of refugees. From Ukraine and to signal important issues likely to affect negatively the food security in the EU.
Read more hereApril 2022
From 5 to 12 April 2022, a FEBA delegation visited Romania, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine to monitor the situation and assess the needs.
Read more hereApril 2022
On the 4 May Angela Frigo, FEBA Secretary General, was invited to the meeting of the NAT Section of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) to give insights into the work of FEBA and its members with regards to the Ukraine crisis and the food insecurity resulting from that.
In order to coordinate and support the members with regards to the campaign, FEBA hired a Project Manager to work on these issues.
Read more hereJune 2022
On 9 June 2022, FEBA presented best practices from the field to support Ukrainian refugees in the framework of the #AllTogether4Ukraine campaign.
Read more hereJune 2022In July, various online meetings took place with FEBA Members from Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, and Czech Republic in order to assess the current situation and their needs.
Read more hereJuly 2022
From 29 August to 3 September a FEBA delegation visited Ukraine, the first stop was in Lviv, meeting with the mayor as well as charities and partners. The trip continued in September in Kyiv, visiting the warehouse, surrounding liberated regions that were heavily affected by the occupation as well as meeting relevant governmental and local stakeholders.
FEBA delivered 46 pallets of UHT milk from Belgium to the Kyiv City Charity Foundation “Food Bank” in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Read more hereAugust/September 2022On 21 October 2022, the Ukrainian Food Banks Federation was registered and set up, as federal structure for food banking activities in Ukraine.
October 2022
On 14-15 October, a delegation from the Ukrainian Food Banks Federation visited the FEBA HQ in Brussels.
In December 2022, the FEBA Board of Directors granted the Ukrainian Food Banks Federation the temporary status (one year) of Associate Member.
From 24 April to 3 May FEBA visited the Ukrainian Food Banks Federation. The first stop was in Warsaw with the Federacja Polskich Banków Żywności, and then the trip continued in Cherkasy, Kharkiv, and Kherson.
April/May 2023
The European Food Banks Federation (FEBA) is a European non-profit organisation and works in collaboration with 23 Full Members and 7 Associate Members in 30 European countries.
Since 1986, FEBA mission has consisted in representing its membership at European and international level; supporting and strengthening Food Banks in Europe by providing training, sharing best practice and knowledge, and developing partnerships; and fostering the creation of new Food Banks. FEBA brings together a network of Food Banks which are committed to prevent food waste and to reduce food insecurity.
In 2021, the 341 Food Banks belonging to our membership redistributed 907,280 tonnes of food to 45,810 charitable organisations providing food assistance to 11.8 million most deprived people thanks to the professionalism of 39,781 co-workers (83% volunteers).
In addition to surplus food from the food supply chain, FEBA Members also redistribute food from the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) and the Fruits and Vegetables withdrawal scheme, as well as from individual and corporate food collections
Do you have any questions?
Please write to alltogether4ukraine@eurofoodbank.org.
We will be happy to help you!
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
