5 ways you can help vulnerable people without money

Not all of us can donate large sums. But each of us has something to offer: time, attention, goods we no longer use, or simply a voice that can amplify an important message.

At the Prison Fellowship Romania Foundation, we have seen for over 30 years how small gestures build big changes. A volunteer who spends an hour a week with a child. A bag of school supplies brought to a collection point. A share on Facebook that reaches exactly the right person. All of it matters.

Here are 5 concrete ways you can make a difference without spending a single leu.

1. Redirect 3.5% of your income tax

This is the simplest gesture with the biggest impact, and it costs you absolutely nothing. Redirecting 3.5% does not mean an additional payment — it's about money you would pay as tax anyway.

How it works:

·        Fill out form 230 (online or physically)

·        Specify PFR details: Prison Fellowship Romania Foundation, CIF 6816498

·        ANAF transfers 3.5% of your tax to the organization

·        You pay nothing extra

How much is it worth? For a gross salary of 6,000 LEI, you redirect approximately 252 LEI per year. This can mean 8 hot meals at the Soup Kitchen of Hope or school supplies for 5 children.

It takes less than 5 minutes and can be done online.

2. Become a volunteer

Volunteering is the most direct form of impact. At PFR, over 300 volunteers are involved annually in programs covering the entire country.

Where you can get involved:

·        The Angels' Network — Become a mentor for a child with a parent in detention. The mentoring program connects 1-on-1 volunteers with children who need a positive role model.

·        Programs in prisons — With minimal training, you can participate in educational workshops, counseling, or recreational activities in partner prisons. PFR is present in 34 prisons.

·        Soup Kitchen of Hope — Help prepare and serve over 450 hot meals daily. From washing vegetables to serving meals — every helping hand counts.

·        Social Store — Sorting, labeling, and arranging products. Many former PFR beneficiaries also volunteer here — a model of reintegration through work.

·        Community assistance — Participate in distribution campaigns that take place every two months and directly support 50-70 families.

How to sign up: Send an email to office@pfr.ro or access the volunteering page on pfr.ro.

3. Donate goods you no longer use

Your closet might contain exactly what someone else needs. Clothes in good condition, shoes, books, toys, functional furniture — all can get a second life.

What you can donate:

·        Clothes and footwear (clean, in good condition)

·        School supplies and educational materials

·        Functional furniture

·        Functional household appliances

·        Hygiene products (unopened)

·        Non-perishable food (within expiration date)

Where to bring them: PFR Social Store — Expo Transilvania, Dâmbovița Street, Cluj-Napoca.

PFR annually manages 381 tons of goods, distributed to over 120,000 beneficiaries in 24 vulnerable communities. Every donated item is sorted, checked, and reaches someone who truly needs it.

4. Share the message on social media

A share can do more than you think. PFR campaigns reach new people with every share, comment, or reaction.

What you can concretely do:

·        Follow the Prison Fellowship Romania Foundation Facebook page and share posts that resonate with you

·        Share PFR blog articles with your friends

·        During the 3.5% campaign period (January-May), a reminder to friends can generate dozens of completed forms

·        Leave a review or testimonial on the PFR page if you have been involved in programs

Why does it matter? Many PFR fundraising campaigns depend on online visibility. A single share can reach the person who decides to redirect 3.5%, donate goods, or become a volunteer.

Don't underestimate the power of a simple message: "I discovered this organization and I think it deserves your attention."

5. Involve your company or community

You don't have to be a CEO to propose a social responsibility initiative at work. Many community actions start with a single employee making a suggestion.

Concrete ideas:

·        Office collection campaign — Place a box in a visible spot and suggest to colleagues to bring clothes, school supplies, or food. PFR can organize the collection of goods.

·        Teambuilding with impact — Instead of paintball, propose a volunteer day at the Soup Kitchen of Hope or the Social Store. PFR can organize corporate volunteering experiences.

·        Internal 3.5% campaign — Distribute the pre-filled form 230 with PFR data through the company's internal channels. A simple email to colleagues can generate dozens of redirections.

·        20% Sponsorship — If you are an entrepreneur or manager, your company can redirect up to 20% of its profit tax through the sponsorship mechanism.

Every gesture builds something bigger

No gesture is too small. At PFR, we've seen how a single hour of mentoring changes a child's trajectory. How a new pair of boots gives a teenager the courage to go to school. How a share on Facebook reaches exactly the person who needed to hear about the Angels' Network.

For over 30 years, the Prison Fellowship Romania Foundation has mobilized the community to support over 20,000 vulnerable people annually. With 34 partner prisons, over 450 hot meals daily, and over 18,000 children supported, every involvement counts.

The solution to a community's problems is found within the community itself. And the community starts with you.

Get involved →office@pfr.ro
Redirect 3.5% → pfr.ro/pages/redirectioneaza

Frequently Asked Questions

I have little free time. Can I volunteer occasionally?

Yes. PFR also organizes one-off actions — distribution campaigns, Christmas events, sorting goods — in which you can participate without a long-term commitment.

Can I donate goods from outside Cluj?

Yes. For donations from other cities, contact PFR at office@pfr.ro to coordinate transport or identify the nearest collection point.

My company doesn't have a CSR program. Can I propose something?

Absolutely. Many CSR initiatives start with employees. PFR can provide presentation materials and personalized proposals for your company's management.