Country Projects: Bulgaria

Overview

After the concept of food banking was introduced by an American living in Bulgaria, community work started to build food banking initiatives in 2004.  In 2005, a delegation of Bulgarian citizens involved in the efforts received USAID funding to spend a week in the United States to learn about food banking and investigate how they could expand their efforts domestically.  A number of small food banks were established; over time, several of the food banks failed, some small-scale operations remained functional.

In 2007, several of the original delegates who later became associated with the FORA Community Development Foundation in Sofia sought to revive and strengthen the concept and expand food banking in Bulgaria. 

GFN’s Involvement

Representatives from GFN and the U.S. food banking community were invited to participate in meetings planned by FORA, along with representatives from the Bulgarian parliament, private sector, and nonprofit arena. The food banking concept was reintroduced and well received at all levels. 

GFN provided scholarships for FORA members to attend the H-E-B/GFN Food Bank Leadership Institute in 2008 and 2009. We are also providing funding and other support to help expand food banking in Bulgaria.