Context
The General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection Sector 6 is the local public authority responsible for delivering social services at subnational level in Sector 6 of Bucharest, Romania. It provides support for children, families, single individuals, older persons, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the continuous community engagement revealed food insecurity as a pressing need among vulnerable residents. At the same time, a strong willingness was found from private companies and citizens to donate food and volunteer. A dedicated daily helpline further highlighted these needs, as well as growing concerns about food waste, environmental protection, and access to healthy nutrition. Increased demand for after-school services also underscored the need to support education, parental employment, and family stability.
In response, Romania’s first food bank was established, initiated, and managed by a subnational authority.
The programme addresses five key community needs: ensuring food security; reducing food waste and protecting the environment; supporting education; promoting healthy and sustainable consumption; and strengthening public-private partnerships and volunteer engagement.
More than a food bank, the initiative functions as a social hub connecting donors, beneficiaries, NGOs, companies, and public institutions to foster sustainable community development.
Objectives
Building on the identified community needs, the Sector 6 Local Food Bank was created to deliver integrated, practical solutions at local level. The initiative operates through a comprehensive set of programmes and services:
- collection and storage of donated food;
- on-site kitchen for preparing donated food;
- integrated social canteen serving 500 people daily;
- Food for Seniors programme – over 10 000 beneficiaries annually;
- food support for vulnerable families and single individuals – 3000 beneficiaries annually;
- After-School Meal programme – daily meals for 1300 students in 2025;
- vocational training for vulnerable persons – 100 beneficiaries per year;
- transport and delivery of prepared meals;
- regular fresh market stands providing fresh vegetables, especially for vulnerable children;
- community food truck offering hot meals, nutrition education, and economic inclusion opportunities;
- educational programmes on nutrition and environmental protection in schools and the community;
- public awareness actions on food waste reduction;
- life skills development and employability support for vulnerable persons;
- volunteer engagement initiatives;
- educational and cultural activities for social service beneficiaries;
- partial self-financing through charitable fundraising events;
- ZERO WASTE programme: food waste is transformed into compost, while other materials (cardboard, plastic) are recycled.
Implementation
The programme’s infrastructure and community communication are designed to foster direct interaction between the service and citizens, promoting engagement, shared responsibility, and the joint satisfaction of individual needs. The Local Food Bank acts as a central intermediary connecting citizens, businesses, public authorities, NGOs, media institutions, public figures, and international partners.
The construction, equipment, and logistics costs were financed by the local budget of District 6 and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, with a total investment of EUR 5 million. During the implementation phase, the project benefitted from the support of key partners, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Embassy of Sustainability in Romania, Feeding South Florida (USA), the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Diaconia Association, Glovo, Alka, Cris-Tim, Spoonful, BestFoods, and Horeca. The operational team consists of social workers, chefs, warehouse staff, drivers, administrators, management personnel, PR specialists, and volunteers.
Given the social assistance focus of the programme, information and communication are core components. Continuous dialogue with beneficiaries and stakeholders ensures a clear understanding of community needs, available resources, and opportunities for involvement. The programme was built on strong information flows and collaboration, enabling a user-centric service tailored to local needs and capacities.