• Zero Hunger

Food Rescue Helper

location
1 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 16 - 50+
rating  Good 4.2  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Make a meaningful social impact by volunteering and making a difference in the lives of those in need
  • Explore the captivating city of Lisbon and its breathtaking natural surroundings, from stunning beaches to picturesque mountainous regions
  • Improve the lives of thousands by actively participating in providing food to those who are less fortunate
  • Embrace the opportunity to learn Portuguese through language lessons and immerse yourself in the daily life and culture of the locals
  • Play an active role in combating food waste in Portugal, contributing to a more sustainable and responsible society

Especially good for

Age 16+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+
Wheel Chairs

About the program

Volunteer in Lisbon to fight food waste and feed 3000 families who need support. Discover Portugal while traveling 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

A typical day would be:

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 project that you are participating in. A typical morning schedule ...

Typical day

A typical day would be:

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 project that you are participating in. A typical morning schedule is as follows:

08:00 | Breakfast begins at Impact house, available until 10 am

10:15 | Travel to the placement to join the local staff and begin to work on your project (if morning shift)                                                                     

13:00 |  Lunch is served at the accommodation or take-away if you want to go somewhere else                                

14:30 | Enjoy your free afternoon as you wish or to attend Portuguese languages lessons 

19:00 | Dinner at the volunteers' accommodation with the other volunteers. After dinner, you will have the remainder of the evening free to relax and use as you wish

Please note that the actual schedule can change according to the shifts volunteers participate in. There is a 10.30am, a 6 pm and an 8 pm shift.

Free-time activities

Lisbon is near the beach, near the mountain and is a great starting point to get to travel the rest of the country.

  • Enjoy climbing in Arrábida
  • festivals all around the summer
  • diving in Peniche
  • Hiking in Monsanto
  • visit some of the best museums in Europe in Lisbon and Porto
  • join for a Horse ride at the ...

Free-time activities

Lisbon is near the beach, near the mountain and is a great starting point to get to travel the rest of the country.

  • Enjoy climbing in Arrábida
  • festivals all around the summer
  • diving in Peniche
  • Hiking in Monsanto
  • visit some of the best museums in Europe in Lisbon and Porto
  • join for a Horse ride at the beach (like in movies!)
  • visit the fantastic zoo in the Capital
  • join a great variety of sports at your choice
  • enjoy swimming and water sports at the pool or at the beach (warning: the water is cold) 
  • participate in yoga classes in relaxing places

We can help you with anything you might want to do in your free time.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 16 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 16 years old on the program start date.

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 09:30 - 14:30

What's Included

What's Included

Services by ImpacTrip

What’s included?

  • Pick up at the international airport in Lisbon & transfer to the accommodation - 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 an impactful hostel, female dormitory, or mixed dormitory
  • Three meals everyday: breakfast, lunch, and dinner (Local style. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and meals for lactose-intolerant are also available upon request)
  • Shared use of a common room, outdoor area, garden, and free WIFI
  • Orientation event on arrival (including an introduction to Portugal and culture, volunteer experience, an overview of programs, practical information and safety guidelines)
  • SIM card
  • Guided city tour
  • The best tips to discover the city!
  • Allocation and coordination of a work placement in an impactful non-profit project
  • Introduction on the first day of volunteering
  • Ongoing support throughout the stay
  • 24h/7 emergency support
  • Liability insurance with limited cover

Airport Pickup at Lisbon Portela 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

Volunteers will stay accommodated in a in a dormitory-style sustainable hostel in Estoril.

Estoril is a beach town, a 30 min train ride from Lisbon city centre!

And the hostel is a 5 min walk from the train station

This sustainable hotel has dormitory-style rooms accommodating from 6-14 participants (single gender) and private rooms (available for upgrades upon request. Bathrooms are shared).

Wi-fi is freely available in the hostel, and of course in many cafe's and restaurants.

Around the house there are big common areas to relax and meet other people from all over the world.

We are extremely dedicated to its sustainable concept, making it an integrated part of how this hostel works and the experience that you will have.

Feel free to ask us about our environmental measures and to give us new ideas!

Food & Beverages

All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included on the program fees. 

Portuguese food is delicious and during your time, you will be sure to receive some incredible treats.

The meals are prepared daily by local cooks who use fresh local ingredients to offer volunteers the best of typical Portuguese dishes.

Volunteers are provided with three meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner).

Volunteers will have access to a shared kitchen that they can use to cook!

Lunch and Dinner will include local staples such as fish and chicken, as well as rice, pasta, vegetables and salad.

Breakfast is self-served at the accommodation and generally includes tea, coffee, bread, cheese, ham, spreads, cereal, yogurt and fruit


Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) in Lisbon. 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

1 week (min. stay) 1,040€
2 weeks 1,415€
3 weeks 1,790€
4 weeks 2,165€
5 weeks 2,540€
6 weeks 2,915€
7 weeks 3,290€
8 weeks 3,665€
9 weeks 4,040€
10 weeks 4,415€
11 weeks 4,790€
12 weeks (max. stay) 5,165€
Average fees 735€/week

Program fees

735€ per week 1 - 12 weeks Age 16 - 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

Chelsea Watson rating2.8

2022 at Food Rescue Helper

I stayed with the Impact Trip for 6 weeks. Overall I had an amazing experience however that was due to the other volunteers there and making memories out with the volunteering and being at the hostel. Firstly I stayed in the Beach house which originally I was so happy with however it was very basic. ..
Clemence GAUTHIE rating3.8

2021 at Food Rescue Helper

This volunteering was really interesting for me and I really liked it. I just would appreciate if we could have more activities included in the price because I think it's quite expensive and some parts of the accommodations are not up to the price (2 bathrooms, for more than 12 people, and the ...
Sanne van der Marel rating2.2

2021 at Food Rescue Helper

Placement situation: I was there for two weeks. Half the time it was organized badly, the other half was okay. When I was at the placement sometimes there wouldn't be a 'leader' to instruct the volunteers. So sometimes we just sat and did nothing. Social situation; If you choose the food rescue ...
Jeanne Blanc rating5

2020 at Food Rescue Helper

I spent a month in Lisbon during summer break to participate in the food rescue program and it was such a good experience. I learnt a lot did a lot and felt usefull. It was during the coronavirus pandemic so there was hygiene measures but it did not influe on the program other than that. I loved ...
Joseph Squires rating5

2020 at Food Rescue Helper

Thoroughly enjoyed it. The accommodation and food was of an excellent standard for a hostel. The work was rewarding and we got to see the beautiful city of Lisbon and other nearby attractions. Would gladly do it all again! ...
Jakob Juul Martini rating4.6

2020 at Food Rescue Helper

We came as a family (two adults and two kids) and worked for two weeks as food rescue helpers for the organisation called Re-food. It was a great experince. The work was not to complicated, neither too easy. We collected food from different places located in the central Lissabon, and for three ...

Location

Europe > Southern Europe > Portugal > Lisbon

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Volunteer Abroad  >  Health Services  >  Nutrition and Food in Portugal
Contact Cristiana
  Very high response rate
Portuguese, Spanish, English

Most volunteers ask about

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