The Gipuzkoa Food Bank provided assistance to approximately 15,500 individuals last year, distributing 2,056 tons of food through its various programs. This figure indicates a reduction in both the total volume of food and the number of beneficiaries compared to previous periods. However, the association states that this decrease has enabled them to maintain the monthly distribution ratio per person and enhance the quality of care provided.
According to the latest report from the Food Bank, since 2024, Gipuzkoa has seen a decline in both food tonnage and the number of people served. Far from being a negative development, this has allowed for “more balanced assistance, adapted to real needs, and sustained over time.” The organization from Gipuzkoa emphasizes that “it’s not just about volume, it’s about care.”
Throughout the past year, a total of 15,500 people benefited, receiving an average of 11 kilograms per person per month. In total, 2,056 tons were distributed, a significant decrease compared to the previous year, when 2,560 tons were distributed to 17,202 people. This decline is primarily attributed to two factors: a reduction in donations from the “Last Minute” program and lower financial contributions for food purchases during the 2024 Great Collection and early 2025.
It’s not just about volume, it’s about care.
The “Last Minute” program, which recovers food nearing its expiration date, salvaged 809 tons from 135 suppliers, representing a 5% decrease from the previous year and a 12% drop between 2023 and 2024. Due to a lack of liquidity in the first half of the year, the Food Bank purchased 215 tons of food for 287,054 euros, partly by negotiating competitive prices with suppliers. Additionally, 866 tons of food were received through collections and donations from 45 organizations, and the Great Collection, held between November 7 and 16, raised 599,082 euros in food, vouchers, and donations, thanks to nearly 200 volunteers and participation in 215 stores.
Among the reasons for the decrease in beneficiaries, the Food Bank highlights improved employment in Euskadi and particularly in Gipuzkoa, which recorded one of the lowest unemployment rates in the Basque Country at the end of last year. Nevertheless, the association reminds that severe poverty affects over 40,000 people in the territory, accounting for 5.5% of the Gipuzkoan population. This poverty disproportionately impacts single-parent families, migrants, and workers with insufficient incomes.
In 2025, the Food Bank distributed 132 monthly batches to 13,580 needy individuals, with each batch containing 9.05 kilograms of food per person per month. Six out of ten assisted individuals were women. To carry out this work, the organization relied on 210 volunteers, 75 partners, and five employees, who also participated in an educational project reaching 780 students through informative sessions and visits to the warehouses in Oiartzun.
