If it wasn’t for people like Catarina, perfectly good food would be thrown out
I met a hero today. Her name is Catarina Martins. She is a volunteer coordinator at Refood, which is a project designed to distribute quality food for free to those in need. The food mostly comes from local supermarkets, but it is surplus and cannot be sold for various reasons. If it wasn’t for people like Catarina, perfectly good food would be thrown out, instead of nourishing families who have difficulty paying their bills.
“It’s simple and it makes perfect sense,” said Catarina, “We are the bridge between good food and those who need it. It’s crazy how much food is wasted. I love to cook, and I can’t stand to see food wasted!”
Refood is a 100% volunteer organization, with centers all over Portugal. The program is very successful and is growing. It is clearly a win-win-win opportunity for volunteers, customers, and food stores.
I am reporting from the newly expanded Portimão Refood center. It is the weekend, which is when families come to pick up their weekly assortment of food.
Catarina is managing two other volunteers, Ana Gouzaga, and Anne Bachelart, who are scurrying around and making up bags for the customers. The atmosphere is cheerful and breezy as volunteers and families are chatting, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.
There are three main jobs that are fulfilled by Refood volunteers:
- Volunteers pick up the donated food from Continente, Aldi, Mel and Canela (an amazing pastry shop), The Food Company, and others. They bring the food to Refood’s facility in Portimão.
- Volunteers sort and inspect the food, making sure it is in good condition and stored properly.
- Volunteers give bags of assorted food to the customers who come to the facility for free pickup.
After a while, when she is satisfied that things are running smoothly, Catarina sits down with me and takes a break for further reflection. I learn that she is 33, a former pharmacist, and is fascinated by the idea of rescuing and distributing food. Her day job is at “Too Good to Go”, an amazing app that connects customers with surplus food in their area. She is clearly a devotee of not wasting food!
Then she gives me a bigger picture of her mission. “I enjoy working with my colleagues and customers; we have a lot of fun, and it is very satisfying to help people. But actually, my biggest personal reason for doing this work is to help the earth’s environment. When we waste food, we also waste the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport, and package it,” she tells me, “If the food goes to the landfill and rots, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide.”
So, there’s another important reason to help Refood and other programs like it.
“We always need more volunteers to expand the group and provide more services. It’s easy to become a volunteer. Just go on the website re-food.org – anyone interested can apply on the website.”
As I watch Catarina joyfully go about her work with the volunteers and customers, I see someone doing something really good, and enjoying all of it. So now you know why she is my role model of how to enjoy life. And how to be a hero.
Text & Photo By ERIC ROTH
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Eric Roth is a lifelong photojournalist who has recently emigrated from Boston, USA to the Algarve. He loves nature and wildlife. 926 742 687 | ericrothphoto@gmail.com
