From 6 to 8 May 2025, FEBA CEO Esteban Arriaga and Head of Policy and Network Development Aurore Mourette travelled to Vilnius to take part in the Community of Practice (CoP) on Material Support meetings, hosted by the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation.
The Steering Group meeting on 6 May provided an opportunity to reflect on past activities and shape the 2026 work programme. Participants also visited a social supermarket in Trakai and the vocational school Sodžiaus meistrai, both of which offer innovative approaches to inclusion through material support.
The two-day onsite event that followed – “Exploring diverse delivery methods: distribution of food and/or material assistance and voucher systems” , brought together experts and practitioners from across Europe. The Lithuanian Food Bank (Maisto Bankas), represented by its Director Simonas Gurevičius, presented its pioneering model, which combines traditional food distribution with voucher systems and strong community involvement. Participants visited the Food Banks in both Vilnius and Kaunas to witness these practices in action.
The meeting also included an interactive workshop on the future EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, where FEBA contributed to discussions on integrating food and material aid into long-term social inclusion policies.
FEBA thanks the organisers and Maisto Bankas for their hospitality and inspiring work. The exchange highlighted the importance of cooperation, innovation, and the shared commitment to tackling poverty and social exclusion across Europe.
