• Zero Hunger
  • Reduced Inequalities

Food Rescue

location
1 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
rating  Good 4.2  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Volunteer to have a meaningful social impact that really matters
  • Discover charming Porto city, its beautiful river and heritage
  • Improve the lives of thousands in need by providing them with rescued food
  • Get the chance to partake in Portuguese language lessons and share daily life with locals
  • Contribute actively to fight the food waste in Portugal

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

Volunteer in Porto to fight food waste and feed homeless and families in need. Discover Portugal, travel like a local and create a REAL positive social impact.

The Food Rescue project addresses two critical issues: reducing food waste and fighting food poverty. Every day in Portugal, thousands of people benefit from food that would otherwise go to waste, collected from local restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets. As a Food Rescue volunteer, you'll be part ...

About the program

The Food Rescue project addresses two critical issues: reducing food waste and fighting food poverty. Every day in Portugal, thousands of people benefit from food that would otherwise go to waste, collected from local restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets. As a Food Rescue volunteer, you'll be part of a dedicated, volunteer-based movement committed to eliminating food waste and ending hunger.

What to Expect:

  • Community Impact: Help redistribute food to those in need.

  • Volunteer Collaboration: Work alongside local volunteer teams to ensure food reaches the people who need it most.

  • Operational Support: Assist in the collection, packing, storage, and distribution of food donations.

Daily Tasks:

  • Food Collection

  • Meal Packaging

  • Food Storage: Assist with storing and organizing food donations.

  • Workspace Maintenance: Clean and arrange containers and workspaces.

  • Distribution: of meals to the beneficiaries.

Why Join?

  • Make an Impact: Help reduce food waste and fight food poverty in Portugal.

  • Gain Experience: Develop skills in food logistics, community service, and volunteer coordination.

  • Cultural Immersion: Experience Portuguese culture while making a meaningful difference in the community.

Ready to Fight Hunger and Reduce Waste?

Typical day

After the initial orientation, you will have an afternoon or evening shift at your placement and will work for approximately 3 to 5 hours per day. Please note that start times and daily workload depends on the center that you are in. 

A typical daily schedule is as follows:

Morning | Explore the city ...

Typical day

After the initial orientation, you will have an afternoon or evening shift at your placement and will work for approximately 3 to 5 hours per day. Please note that start times and daily workload depends on the center that you are in. 

A typical daily schedule is as follows:

Morning | Explore the city and learn Portuguese during your free time

13:00 | Have lunch at the accommodation or go somewhere else.

18:30 | Go to your project by public transportation and join the local staff to volunteer at one of the food rescue centers.

21:00 | Dinner with other international volunteers and other travelers.

Please note that the actual schedule can change according to the shifts. Usually, shifts last from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm but can last until midnight.

Free-time activities

In your free time, you can explore the city, have Portuguese language classes, surf, or anything you wish!

Porto is the second biggest city in Portugal and one of the most authentic cities to visit in the country. Stroll through its sinuous and picturesque streets and feel the pulse of the city, or ...

Free-time activities

In your free time, you can explore the city, have Portuguese language classes, surf, or anything you wish!

Porto is the second biggest city in Portugal and one of the most authentic cities to visit in the country. Stroll through its sinuous and picturesque streets and feel the pulse of the city, or take the tram to the mouth of the river Douro and get to know the excellent beaches and the outdoor cafés. The historic center of Porto was declared UNESCO World Heritage but is the hospitality and forceful character of the locals that will delight you.  Porto is a vibrant and young city with countless cafés, bars, and clubs to have a really good time at night, or relaxed rooftops to have a drink and enjoy the warm Portuguese climate.

Porto, the gate to the North of the country, is definitely worth the visit!

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 18:30 - 21:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by ImpacTrip

What’s included?

- Pick up at the international airport in Porto & transfer to the accommodation - Sunday 

On Sunday, the ImpacTrip team will be at the airport waiting for you with a big sign and a smile on their face! :)

If you arrive prior to Sunday, you will still be able to receive an airport pickup and our team can transport you to the accommodation, but you will need to pay an extra fee for this service.
We will reach out to you by WhatsApp a few days before your start date to connect

- Accommodation at a dormitory at a centre-located hostel, female dormitory or mixed dormitory

- Three meals a day everyday: Breakfast, lunch and dinner (Local style. Vegetarian, gluten-free and meals for lactose-intolerant are also available upon request)

- Shared use of common spaces and free WIFI

- Orientation event on arrival (including introduction to Portugal and culture, volunteer experience, overview of programmes, practical information, safety guidelines)

- Guided city tour and the best tips to discover the city!

- Allocation and coordination of a work placement in a sustainable project and contact person in the project

- Introduction on the first day of volunteering

- Ongoing support throughout the stay

- 24h/7 emergency support by phone or personally

- Limited coverage civil liability insurance.

Airport Pickup at Porto Airport

On Sunday, the ImpacTrip team will be at the airport waiting for you with a big sign and a smile on their face! :)

If you arrive prior to Sunday, you will still be able to receive an airport pickup and our team can transport you to the accommodation, but you will need to pay an extra fee for this service.
We will reach out to you by WhatsApp a few days before your start date to connect

Accommodation

The accommodation is an hostel located right at the city center of Porto city, with a wide range of rooms, from dormitories to private rooms, a spacious and friendly lounge area where volunteers can hang out, chill, listen to music, enjoy the atmosphere, play some games, and get to know  other fellow travelers. All rooms have shared bathroom. Besides all the meals are provided there is a fully equipped kitchen for use of all the guests where volunteers can store and prepare food as they wish. There is free wi-fi in all the hostel area.

Food & Beverages

We will provide breakfast at the accommodation everyday. We will cook with fresh local ingredients everyday for all volunteers and they are prepared to accommodate most diet restrictions such as vegan and vegetarians, gluten-free and lactose intolerant. Also take some time out to explore the city and its incredible cuisine!
Lunch and dinner are provided by an amazing non-profit, located 5 min walking from the accommodation!
Once you collect your meal you can either take it to the hostel and eat there, eat outside and explore the city or eat at the non-profit :)

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Porto Airport (OPO) in Porto. We assist you to find cheap flights to Portugal. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Portugal provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Portugal you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Portugal. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

This program starts every Sunday!
You should arrive on Sunday (or before) to attend the orientation session on Monday morning.
Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

6 days (min. stay) 1,040€
2 weeks 1,550€
3 weeks 2,060€
4 weeks 2,570€
5 weeks 3,080€
6 weeks 3,590€
7 weeks 4,100€
8 weeks 4,610€
9 weeks 5,120€
10 weeks 5,630€
11 weeks 6,140€
12 weeks (max. stay) 6,650€
Average fees 883€/week

Program fees

883€ per week 1 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

1 - 12 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with ImpacTrip during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

ImpacTrip

Good 4.2 rating (70 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2015

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Cristiana

Spoken languages: Portuguese, Spanish, English

About the project

ImpacTrip is a social enterprise that promotes Responsible Travel Experiences in Portugal, Spain and Croatia.

Meet your organization

ImpacTrip is a social business internationally certified as B-Corp that promotes Responsible Travel Experiences in Portugal, Spain and Croatia.

Founded in 2015 by two dedicated social entrepreneurs that want to change the way people travel, ImpacTrip aims at combining the best of travel with a positive social and environmental impact.

We really want travelers to have the most unique and meaningful travel experiences.

We offer short-term Travel Experiences across our country that allow you and other Responsible Travelers to connect with the locals, experience the culture and contribute in a positive way to the local communities.

We also offer long-term volunteer programs in which you can dedicate 1 to 12 weeks volunteering for local non-profits for a specific cause while meeting people from all over the world.

Since 2015 we've received people from over 50+ different nationalities that contributed with over 30.000 hours of volunteer work to support over 300 non-profits.

70 reviews · rating4.2

yair hogeg rating5

2019 at Food Rescue

I stayed in Villa Nova De Gaia for 3 weeks volunteering in the fight food waste for 3 weeks. I can clearly say that it was an amazing experience living and working with the local volunteers while also feeling their acceptance and warmth in a very important and fulfilling ...
Laura Montano rating3

2018 at Food Rescue

The organisation we worked with directly, ReFood, was full of amazing people who spend a few hours every week helping those in need by providing food - we really enjoyed volunteering! We also got a very informative presentation, which included things to do in Porto and a great tour guide. However, ...
Alba Gala Torrero rating5

2024 at Youth Supporter

I recommend this experience to absolutely anyone, it was the best of my life. The first week my placement was in a Skatepark in Cascais, so I had to catch a train and then a bus. Although it was good and the commute was fine, I didn't feel comfortable at the beggining so I asked to switch to a ...
Martin Hag rating3.6

2024 at Environmental Scuba Diving

The people working there were really supportive and genuinely wish for you to have a good experience. My first day was an introduction to the area, possibility to get help with the tickets for the public transports and a guided tour of Lisbon. They also have communication chats for you to contact ...
Thomas Payne rating3.2

2024 at Animal Care and Protection

Honestly, I was surprised, when on the website it shows photos of so many dogs, animals, it turned out I was working at a cat sanctuary. It's not that I was disappointed by the cats, it was just a shock, and also, at points of the sanctuary I feel like I wasn't apart of it massively, there wasn't ...
Isabel Hager rating2.6

2024 at Environmental Scuba Diving

Here’s a more formal and assertive version of your feedback: After months of requesting a detailed schedule for our diving experience, we only received the information after all payments had already been made. To pay €1,500 for a week, only to end up with just four dives, is completely ...

Location

Europe > Southern Europe > Portugal > Porto

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Volunteer Abroad  >  Community  >  Social Work in Portugal
Contact Cristiana
  Very high response rate
Portuguese, Spanish, English

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