How to donate food and goods to those in need

In one corner of the city, a child receives their first pair of new boots. In a rural community, a family finds exactly the food they need for the coming week in the package they received. Behind every donation of goods lies a simple gesture that meets a real need.

The Prison Fellowship Romania Foundation annually distributes 381 tons of goods: food, clothing, medical equipment, and school supplies to vulnerable communities in the Transylvania area. Every donation, regardless of size, matters.

What goods can you donate?

Food

The most needed foods are non-perishable ones with a long shelf life:

·        Canned goods: vegetables, fish, meat, beans, peas

·        Grains: pasta, rice, cornmeal, flour, oatmeal

·        Cooking oil and vinegar

·        Sugar, salt, basic spices

·        Packaged sweets: biscuits, chocolate, wafers (especially for children's packages)

·        Coffee and tea

·        UHT milk and long-life dairy products

Important: Food must be in original, unopened packaging, with a valid expiration date.

Clothing and footwear

·        Clean clothes, in good condition (no rips or stains)

·        Functional footwear

·        Bed linen and towels

·        Blankets and sleeping bags (highly sought after in winter)

·        Children's items (any age)

School supplies and educational materials

·        Notebooks, pens, pencils, markers

·        Backpacks and pencil cases

·        Books for children and young people

·        Art supplies (watercolors, playdough)

These are distributed especially during the Back-to-School campaigns in September and through the Angels Network program, which supports over 18,000 children with incarcerated parents.

Equipment and furniture

·        Functional furniture (beds, desks, chairs, wardrobes)

·        Medical equipment (wheelchairs, walking frames, hospital beds)

·        Working appliances

·        Toys in good condition

PFR transports medical equipment to hospitals and prisons.

Hygiene products

·        Soap, shampoo, toothpaste

·        Feminine hygiene products

·        Diapers for children and adults

·        Detergents and cleaning products

Where can you bring donations?

PFR collection points in Cluj-Napoca

PFR Social Store

·        Address: Expo Transilvania, Dâmbovița Street, Cluj-Napoca (Mărăști area)

·        Receives clothing, footwear, furniture, household items, toys, school supplies

·        Goods are sorted, cleaned, and distributed to beneficiaries through social vouchers

Bucătăria Speranței (Kitchen of Hope)

·        Receives food donations for preparing hot meals

·        Serves 450+ hot meals daily

Large volume donations

For large volume donations (furniture, equipment, pallets of food)

·        Contact: office@pfr.ro

·        Phone: see pfr.ro for the updated number

PFR's international partners — Hoffnungstäger (Germany), Humedica (Germany), Human Bridge (Germany), International Aid Trust (Sweden) — regularly contribute large shipments of goods.

How do donations reach beneficiaries?

PFR's distribution process is structured and transparent:

1. Collection and sorting
Donated goods are received, sorted by category, and quality-checked. At the Social Store, the volunteer team — including former PFR beneficiaries — prepares the products for distribution.

2. Needs assessment
Social workers assess the needs of each family or community.

3. Direct distribution

·        Community campaigns: Every two months, PFR organizes distribution campaigns that directly support vulnerable families;

·        Monthly assistance: organizations (schools, hospitals, prisons) receive regular support

4. Reporting
Each campaign is documented. PFR monitors the quantities distributed, the number of beneficiaries, and the social impact.

Impact of goods donations

The figures from the PFR Community Assistance program speak for themselves:

·        120,000+ beneficiaries supported annually through direct actions

·        381 tons of goods managed in 2024 (food, medical equipment, furniture)

·        24 vulnerable communities receive regular support

·        40 communities supported in total

·        300+ volunteers involved in sorting and distribution

Tips for Effective Donations

Think about what you would like to receive. Donate items you would gladly use yourself. Excessively worn or damaged goods require sorting resources and may end up in the trash, turning the donation into a burden.

Sort before you bring. Separate clothes by season and size. Put food items in a separate bag. This saves volunteers hours of work.

Choose the right time. Certain periods have specific needs:

·        January-May: 3.5% Campaign — but goods donations are welcome all year round

·        September: Back-to-School — school supplies, backpacks, autumn clothes

·        October-December: Christmas — toys, sweets, winter clothes, blankets

·        Easter: Food packages

Involve your friends or colleagues. A collection campaign at the office or among friends can quickly gather goods for dozens of families.

More Than Just Objects

Every food package, every pair of boots, every notebook donated tells someone: "You are not alone." At PFR, we believe that the solution to a community's problems is found within the community itself.

For over 30 years, we have mobilized people who want to help and connected them with those in need. With 381 tons of goods distributed in the last year alone, every donation, no matter how small, becomes part of an effort that transforms lives.

Donate goods → Contact PFR
Donate financially → pfr.ro/pages/donate

The data presented comes from the public reports of the Prison Fellowship Romania Foundation. All donations are managed transparently, with annual external audits.