Jelgava residents invited to help fill food parcels in autumn charity drive

On Saturday, 17 October, the food bank "Paēdušai Latvijai" ("For a Fed Latvia") and the retail chain Rimi will hold an autumn food parcel drive across Latvia, asking people to donate products to those in hardship. Residents of Jelgava can take part at the Rimi store in the Vivo shopping centre. The organisers announced the details.

The charity drive is taking place for the 20th time. Donations can be handed in at 53 Rimi stores nationwide from 11:00 to 19:00, and support can also be given through the e-shop. The collected parcels will be delivered, together with the food bank and regional partner organisations, to people and families who depend on such help day to day.

Which products are needed

People are asked to donate nutritious, long-life products:

• grains – rice, buckwheat, semolina, oat flakes, groats, pearl barley;
• legumes, flour and flour products, pasta;
• canned meat, fish, vegetables and fruit;
• oil, sugar, honey, tea, coffee and spices.

Treats for children, such as chocolate, biscuits, dried fruit and nuts, would also be especially welcome for families.

Organisers' message

Agita Kraukle, head of the food bank, stresses that a food parcel is more than food: it gives a person or family the chance to enjoy a good meal in a hard moment and makes daily life a little easier. She encourages every shopper to add one more item to their basket, noting that each donated parcel shows those in difficulty that they are not alone.

Result of the spring drive

In the previous, spring drive, Rimi and store visitors together filled 6,366 food parcels. That was enough to provide meals for about 20,000 people across Latvia, including lonely elderly people, large families and people who suddenly faced unexpected hardship.