Portugal – Food Rescue in Lisbon

Lisbon is a great destination for volunteer travelers who want to explore a lively European city with a deep history and culture. The city of Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, is a blend of old and new, where tradition and modernity share the same space. At the mouth of the Rio Tejo River, it is close to the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. Lisbon’s temperate climate throughout the year has made it one of the most popular places for people to visit in Europe. Apart from volunteering, travelers may discover the city’s many sights, like the vibrant streets of Alfama and Bairro Alto, the Belém Tower, and the Castelo de São Jorge. Not to mention great night life and local eateries.

The volunteer work takes place with our social partners in the neighbourhoods of Oeiras and Cascais. Depending on the placement, it can take around 15 to 40 minutes to get there from the volunteer hostel via public transportation.

Food waste is a major problem worldwide. People lose or waste one third of food produced, which is around 1.3 billion tonnes of food. As a volunteer in this program, you will help combat food waste and hunger in Lisbon, feeding thousands of people daily.

We work with a network of centers in Lisbon that collect food from restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets and distributes it to over 3000 individuals and families as meals, instead of disposing of it in the rubbish.

The shifts take place in these centers, alongside other local and international volunteers. You will be involved with a variety of tasks, such as:

• Food preparation (cooking involved if needed)
• Food collection with teams in restaurants, pastry shops, supermarkets, etc;
• Packaging the food in smaller containers and pack, and store in refrigerators and freezers
• Organizing the food containers for family/beneficiary and conducting quality control
• Confirming the beneficiaries’ list and delivering food to the beneficiaries
• Cleaning used containers
• Organizing and saving any food left for the next day
• Tidying up at the end of your shift!

Volunteers work up to 4 hours daily and shifts take place in the evening from 18 pm. The schedule depends on the organization and its needs at the moment. Volunteers have a minimum of 2 days off (weekends usually).

Internet: Wi-Fi is included.

Laundry: Available for use, extra fee €5

Accommodations: Volunteers will stay in a hostel committed to sustainable practices. The accommodation is in dorm-style rooms with shared bath-room facilities. Private and double rooms are available for an extra fee. The shared spaces include a roomy living area, a gorgeous garden and a vegetable plot, a large outdoor space, a swimming pool, a dining hall and an activities space – with a free yoga class every Friday!

Food: We provide three homemade meals each day. Special diet accommodations (e.g. vegetarian, vegan, etc.) are available.

• Minimum 16 years old with parental consent
• GoEco interview
• Basic level of English
• Criminal background check
• No serious medical issues

Volunteers should get to know the nature and culture here, and we’ll give you tips and tricks to make you feel like a local in Lisbon! The shifts will last between 3 and 5 hours in the evenings. With this plan, you’ll have plenty of time to check out the sights, wander around, talk with the locals, and take it easy. Plus, you’ll have weekends off, too! The most popular options are Belém, Lisbon Downtown and Cascais beaches.