Regional cooperation on food aid continues in Central Uusimaa

The municipality of Tuusula applied for state aid in cooperation with Hyvinkää, Järvenpää, Mäntsälä, Nurmijärvi and Pornainen. Of the aid, €181,000 will be directed to 14 co-implementers who are responsible for the practical implementation of food aid. The subsidy covers, among other things, the costs of transporting, storing and distributing food, as well as organising communal meals.

Tuusula is responsible for coordination

The municipality of Tuusula will continue to manage and coordinate the project. The project coordinator will bring together the various actors in the region, promote the flow of information and strengthen cooperation.

Coordination is financed half by state subsidies and half by municipalities and Keusote’s own funding.

Well-being and inclusion through cooperation

Food aid is part of broader welfare work. The project raises awareness of services among those receiving food aid and supports their participation. The activities also offer opportunities for voluntary work and tasks that promote employment.

The project strengthens network-based cooperation and develops a regional logistics model. Food aid operators are supported financially and operationally, and their expertise is strengthened, particularly in terms of food safety and responsible engagement.

Waste put to good use

Food aid utilises food waste, which is channelled into human consumption in various ways. As a result of the project, Tuusula and Järvenpää are already utilising school catering waste in food aid, such as communal meals.

The activities are coordinated by the Yhdessä katettu network, whose logistics centre enables the efficient utilisation of food waste. An experiment has also been launched in Mäntsälä to donate surplus food from schools to food aid.

Key figures for food aid activities in 2024

• Twelve food aid organisations received funding from a state subsidy project in Central Uusimaa.
• The operators organised a total of 3,421 food aid events.
• A total of 329,722 visits were recorded at the events.
• A total of 366,677 food parcels or distribution batches and 46,297 food portions were distributed as food aid.
• Those involved in food aid activities worked a total of 4,453 hours, mainly on a voluntary basis.

In addition, eight operators reported utilising a total of 11.9 million kilograms of food waste, which corresponds to over 238,000 kilograms per week. Between September and December, Tuusula Municipality’s food services directed 882 kilograms of food waste from production lines to food aid operators.

In connection with food aid activities, a wide range of support and activities were also offered, for example:

• discussion support, peer support and advice
• material assistance, such as clothing and goods
• opportunities for socialising and community activities
• information about services and assistance with filling out forms
• access to the internet.

During the year, activities were also organised to strengthen participation and community spirit, such as excursions, events, communal cooking and dining, distribution of goods, language clubs and a joint Christmas party in 2024.

Food aid not only provides concrete assistance, but also opportunities for participation, volunteer work and activities that promote employment.

Where can I get food aid?

Up-to-date information on food aid can be found by searching for your location at ruoka-apu.fi. The website serves both those in need of food aid and those providing it. Some providers also publish information on their own websites and on Facebook, for example.

Further information (from 21 July): Project Coordinator Henna Kärki, henna.karki@tuusula.fi, +358 40 314 3080

This content has been translated using AI