It is time to celebrate those who contribute to a fairer society

December 2024

Every day, thousands of Portuguese people devote their time and energy to supporting those most in need, a responsibility they take on because they believe it is important to contribute to the common good. On the 5th of December, International Volunteer Day was celebrated, a public recognition of all those who participate in building a more just and caring society. ‘On this day, I would like to thank all Portuguese people who, on a daily basis, formally or informally, give their time to volunteer work,’ said the President of the Republic in an official statement published on the Presidency of the Republic's website.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa made a point of highlighting the contribution ‘to building stronger and more resilient communities’ and said that it is necessary to ‘encourage the participation of more volunteers in performing this civic task in Portugal.’ According to the United Nations, there are more than one billion volunteers worldwide.

What started as a few days a week quickly turned into a full-time commitment. ‘I started out coming just three days a week, but now I come five days a week,’ she says. ‘It’s very lively. We’re like a little family here and the atmosphere is extraordinary,’ she adds.

At the Food Bank, an institution founded over 30 years ago by Isabel Jonet, all help is precious. Without the daily efforts of the teams who work there, alongside the contribution of hundreds of volunteers and food donations, it would not be possible to respond to those most in need. The food that passes through the Food Bank supports around 4% of the Portuguese population and, according to those in charge, requests for help continue to grow. Every year, 29,000 tonnes of food are delivered.

This aid, which reaches thousands of families through partnerships with other charitable institutions across the country, is essential at a time when Portugal has a poverty risk rate of 17%. According to official data, without social support from the state, more than 4.4 million citizens would be living in poverty and social exclusion.

The frenzy that could be felt in the main warehouse of the social solidarity institution was the result of the latest major food collection campaign, carried out in early December across the country, which enabled the Food Bank to reach its target of around 2,300 tonnes of food – 10% more than in the same period last year. Once again, the success was due to the more than 40,000 volunteers spread from north to south, where the 21 banks are located throughout the country.

Amidst crates of fresh fruit and other foodstuffs, good humour sets the pace as these volunteers move from one side to the other. There is a lot to do, a lot of weight to carry, but the end result makes everyone give their heart and soul. ‘I think it's very important to participate in this type of action because it takes us out of our comfort zone and it's very rewarding to know that we are helping those who need it most,’ Patrícia Fernandes, from Galp's People Department, who is making her debut at the Food Bank, tells Energiser.

Launch of the Volunteer Card

On the same day, a new platform was presented – an initiative by Entrajuda with the António Sérgio Cooperative for Social Economy and the Portuguese Confederation of Volunteering – to value work for the benefit of society. This website allows the registration of all the hours that each person dedicates to volunteering, which can later be exchanged for benefits for participating institutions.

Those responsible explain that the benefits package is still being negotiated with companies and other entities, but they guarantee that it will be important for the day-to-day running of social solidarity institutions. According to the National Statistics Institute, there are more than 700,000 volunteers in Portugal, and if you want to be part of this number, all you have to do is register, free of charge, on the new platform.