Food Bank Mobilizes Over 500 Volunteers

La Fundación Provincial Banco de Alimentos de Vigo said on May 19 that it will mobilize more than 500 volunteers across Pontevedra province for its annual spring food drive, known as Recogida Primavera. The collection is scheduled for June 5 and 6 in about 20 stores, with Vigo expected to provide the largest share of volunteers. The campaign will also reach Sanxenxo and other nearby towns, according to the foundation and local media reports. The drive is part of a wider initiative organized by the Spanish Federation of Food Banks, FESBAL. ### Which towns and stores are included in this collection? Pontevedra province will host the campaign in establishments in Vigo, Pontevedra, Cangas, Moaña, Nigrán, Lalín, Vilagarcía and Sanxenxo, according to the Vigo food bank and regional outlets. The foundation said volunteers in blue vests will be present in roughly a score of stores to help shoppers make food or cash donations at checkout. (farodevigo.es) Vigo is again expected to be the main center of participation, with the largest concentration of volunteers in the province. Faro de Vigo reported that the city will be the principal focus of the operation, while Froiz will join the spring collection for the first time. (bancoalimentosvigo.org) ### Why is the food bank asking for more than 500 volunteers? More than 500 volunteers are needed because the campaign will run simultaneously across multiple supermarket locations over two days. The foundation said volunteers can choose store, shift and day, covering Friday, Saturday or both, in order to staff the collection points. (farodevigo.es) The Banco de Alimentos de Vigo has used similar volunteer appeals in other 2026 drives, including its May campaign with Gadis. In that earlier operation, the foundation also sought more than 500 volunteers across the province, showing the scale of staffing required for its larger in-store collections. (bancoalimentosvigo.org) ### How will donations be collected in practice? The June 5-6 campaign will accept both physical food donations and monetary contributions, the provincial food bank said. The money donated at each supermarket will remain with the retail chain and be withdrawn by the foundation according to its daily food needs, a system the organization has described in its campaign materials. (vigoalminuto.com) Blue-vested volunteers will guide shoppers at the stores and explain the available ways to contribute. Regional coverage said the campaign is aimed at reinforcing supplies before summer, when food aid demand remains in place while donation drives are less frequent. (pontevedraviva.com) ### How does this fit into the broader food-bank campaign in Spain? FESBAL said on May 19 that food banks across Spain need 25,000 volunteers for the 2026 Recogida Primavera, which will take place on June 5, 6 and 7 in major food chains nationwide. The Vigo operation is one provincial part of that national effort, though the local collection announced by the Pontevedra foundation is set for June 5 and 6. (farodevigo.es) The Vigo foundation has framed the campaign as one of its main annual collection efforts. Hermes Vigo, citing the organization, said the goal is to match or exceed the more than 50,000 kilograms collected during the 2025 spring drive. (bancoalimentosvigo.org) ### What happens next before the June collection? June 5 and 6 are the next fixed dates in the Vigo food bank’s calendar for this campaign. The foundation said prospective volunteers can register by choosing a store and shift through its sign-up channels before the collection begins, while participating stores across Vigo, Sanxenxo and the rest of the province prepare to receive donations. (hermesvigo.com) (bancoalimentosvigo.org)