Information for food aid seekers
Where can I get food aid or a payment card?
The Red Cross and several other operators organise food distribution events, other food aid events and distribution of material aid payment cards in different parts of Finland. See more: ruoka-apu.fi/en/home/
On the website you can find food aid events organised by many different operators (Red Cross, associations, congregations, municipal operators).
See the event announcements for more information on each event and their contact persons.
Material aid payment cards
The payment cards are intended for unemployed people, people with a low income, and those in difficult financial situations. You can use the payment card (€40) to buy food and other basic necessities.
Payment cards are distributed in person. There are a limited number of cards available, and they are not always available. Distribution practices and schedules vary.
Persons seeking help are also offered communal meals, opportunities for discussion, psychosocial support, financial and health advice, and guidance to different services and operators. The activities are open to everyone.
See the locations where cards will be distributed below.
Where will payment cards be distributed?
Distribution locations for payment cards between December 2025 and February 2026:
Helsinki and Uusimaa district:
Espoo
Helsinki
Kerava
Kirkkonummi
Lohja
Myrskylä
Nurmijärvi
Porvoo
Rajamäki
Siuntio
You can contact regional workers at: hup.ruoka-apu@redcross.fi
Häme district:
Forssa
Hämeenkyrö
Janakkala
Loppi
Nastola
Pirkkala
Riihimäki
Ruovesi
Sääksjärvi-Lempäälä
Teisko
Virrat
Ypäjä
You can contact regional worker at marjo.salonen@redcross.fi
Kaakkois-Suomi district:
Hamina
Hirvensalmi
Iitti
Joroinen
Kangasniemi
Karhula
Kotka
Kouvola
Kuusankoski
Lappeenranta
Pieksämäki
Rantasalmi
Savitaipale
Taipalsaari
Virolahti-Miehikkälä
You can contact regional worker at: emmi-riika.seppala@redcross.fi
Lappi district:
Enontekiö
Ivalo
Kemijärvi
Kittilä
Kolari
Muonio
Pelkosenniemi
Pello
Posio
Ranua
Rovaniemi
Salla
Savukoski
Sodankylä
Tervola
Tornio
Utsjoki
Ylitornio
You can contact regional worker at: satu.vainio@redcross.fi
Länsi-Suomi district:
Alajärvi
Evijärvi
Hankasalmi
Jalasjärvi
Jyväskylä: Kuokkala
Jämsä
Kaustinen
Koura
Kristiinankaupunki
Kurikka
Kyyjärvi
Laukaa
Lehtimäki
Petäjävesi
Saarijärvi
Seinäjoki
Teuva
Uurainen
Viitasaari
Ähtäri
You can contact regional workers at: ls.ruoka-apu@redcross.fi
Oulu district:
Oulu
Pudasjärvi
Puolanka
Suomussalmi
You can contact regional worker at: pia.jylanki@redcross.fi
Savo-Karjala district:
Iisalmi
Ilomantsi
Joensuu
Keitele
Kiuruvesi
Kuopio
Sonkajärvi
Tohmajärvi
You can contact regional worker at: petra.laitinen@redcross.fi
Satakunta district:
Ahlainen
Eura
Eurajoki
Harjavalta
Huittinen
Ikaalinen
Kankaanpää
Karvia
Kiikoinen
Kokemäki
Köyliö
Lavia
Merikarvia
Nakkila
Noormarkku
Pori
Punkalaidun
Rauma
Siikainen
Sastamala/Vammala
Säkylä
Ulvila
You can contact regional worker at: anne-mari.hakuni@redcross.fi
Turunmaa district:
Dragsfjärd
Kemiö
Korppoo
Parainen
Turku / Åbo svenska
You can contact regional worker at: frans.uggeldahl@redcross.fi
Varsinais-Suomi district:
Kaarina
Raisio
Turku
Uusikaupunki
You can contact regional worker at: miika.norro@redcross.fi
Österbotten Svenska district:
Jakobstad
Korsholm
Malax
Närpes
Vasa
You can contact regional worker at lotta.boling@redcross.fi
Contact details for the headquarters: ruoka-apu@redcross.fi
Frequently asked questions about payment cards
The material aid payment cards are intended for low-income people who are in acute or prolonged financial distress.
There are a limited number of payment cards available, so unfortunately only some of those who need aid can receive one. In a situation where there are more people in need than there are cards available, our policy is to prioritise aid to those who are in the most vulnerable situation.
However, the Finnish Red Cross also offers other food aid activities to support people’s survival.
For more information on food aid events organised by the Finnish Red Cross in your area, please visit ruoka-apu.fi/en.
A payment card is valid for about two months. You will be informed about the card’s validity period when you receive it, and it is written on the card.
The balance of the card is reset to zero after the expiry date.
(If there is any unused balance on the card, it will be redistributed through payment cards issued later.)
You can use the card multiple times during its validity period until the value stored on it runs out.