Red Cross distributes more than 221,000 kilos of food among 12,844 vulnerable people in Lanzarote in the third phase of the 2020 Food Aid Program.
This program, co-financed by 85% by the European Aid Fund for the Most Disadvantaged (FEAD) and 15% by the national budget, includes the total distribution of more than 88.4 million kilos of food during three distribution phases to benefit 1.5 million people in total.
In this third and last phase of the program, Cruz Roja Las Palmas will distribute 494,392 kilos of food to 24,092 beneficiaries, of which 257,862 kilograms will be delivered to 10,419 people on the island of Gran Canaria; 15,525 kilograms will be distributed to 829 vulnerable people in Fuerteventura; and 221,005 kilograms will be distributed among 12,844 people in Lanzarote.
In addition, it will work with 42 participating entities, including nine local, regional and island assemblies of CruzRoja, 10 municipalities and 23 entities-associations.
With this last phase, a total of 1,395,275 kilos of food will have been delivered to the most disadvantaged people in the province of Las Palmas, within the FEAD 2020 Food Aid Program, and of that total 623,675 kilos on the island of Lanzarote.
Distribution of 15.5 million food items throughout the country
Nationally, the Red Cross continues to distribute 15.5 million kilos of food to 757,200 people. The distribution of food is carried out by the Spanish Red Cross and the Spanish Federation of Food Banks (FESBAL), 50% each organization.
As explained, from the storage centers of the two organizations, the food will be distributed to more than 5,600 associated distribution organizations in total throughout the national territory, which will make them reach the most disadvantaged people, so that they can easily prepare a complete meal for one person or for a family with several members, including babies.
To this end, the Spanish Red Cross will work with more than 2,400 participating entities throughout the national territory (the distribution is carried out both to entities and to individuals at the Red Cross headquarters). The foods are basic, non-perishable, easy to transport and store.
This year's 'food basket' will have the following products: cooked beans, macaroni pasta, canned vegetable macedonia, canned fruit, canned tuna and sardines, canned pork (lean), chocolate shakes, white rice, UHT milk, fried tomato, cookies, baby jars of fruit and chicken, and olive oil.
Other aid to respond to "emerging needs" due to Covid
The Red Cross explains that, due to the economic, social and labor consequences of the health crisis, it will deploy an action plan, the RESPONDE Plan against COVID-19, "to respond to emerging needs, expanding and adapting the ordinary activity of the organization to get more responses to more people, in the most agile and effective way possible in these circumstances."
Specifically, in addition to the FEAD program, food aid has materialized through other deliveries of products such as food baskets and hygiene products, which "have been delivered to families who were outside of other aid and had these needs unmet."
Shopping cards or 'wallet cards' have also been provided, with which families go to different establishments where they can purchase their purchase according to their needs, and purchase fresh produce, "so important for a healthy and balanced diet."
According to the NGO, an important part of these interventions has been possible thanks to donations from "many companies that, in solidarity, have contributed to helping alleviate food needs," and to the collaboration and coordination with institutions and administrations with which collaboration agreements have been established for this purpose.
In addition, the Red Cross emphasizes that "all this has been possible thanks to the work carried out by the volunteer staff, who also in a supportive and committed manner have been involved in this activity."