Food aid as part of preparedness to help

Red Cross food aid volunteers are an important part of local-level preparedness to help and of our entire organisation's chain of helping. Volunteers can help in accident situations, such as fires or floods, or in situations that make it harder for local communities to cope, such as widespread power outages and reduced access to clean water.

Food aid volunteers have, among other things, extensive distribution and logistics expertise, good regional collaboration networks, close contact with local communities, experience of everyday helping situations, and skills in respectful and holistic encounters with people. All of this is important for the Red Cross's preparedness to help.

In helping situations, food aid volunteers can, for example, assist with food supply and the distribution of material aid, guide and advise people towards official assistance, and carry out volunteer work.

Feeding groups as part of preparedness

Red Cross branches and food aid volunteers have created a functional model for feeding large crowds. The so-called feeding group model can be replicated across different branches. In practice, feeding groups prepare food for a large group in various conditions using different equipment, such as a field kitchen and a paella pan. In addition to providing help, the purpose of the feeding groups' activities is to increase the Red Cross's own preparedness to take care of food supply, for example in disruptions and emergency conditions.

The feeding groups also practised in the Avun Ketju 2025 preparedness exercise, which strengthened the Red Cross's expertise in preparing for large-scale disruptions and emergency conditions. In the preparedness exercise, participants practised distributing relief supplies and financial aid as well as feeding in a situation where the authorities have made a decision on the protective evacuation of the population.

Food aid volunteers can make a proposal to the branch board to establish a feeding group.