Overview

Deprived households, particularly those including children and elderly, will be targeted through periodic distribution of food packages. An emphasis will be placed on improving the living standards of people living in these households and alleviating their risk of poverty.

Families will be supported through the distribution of free food packages and the social support necessary.

The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, better known as the FEAD, is co-financed by the European Union programme.

What you’ll get

Through this fund, in addition to material assistance to families who are most in need or vulnerable, FEAD also contributes towards the reduction of poverty and social exclusion.

Through this scheme, healthy food products will be distributed to those who are eligible aimed at helping a person to maintain a balanced and varied diet.

Those persons who are eligible under one of general eligibility criteria categories mentioned below will receive the same value of food products. Furthermore, those who are eligible under category 2 but have 3 children or more under the age of 16 years will receive an additional food package.

The food packages distributed to households under the FEAD Programme consist of the following items: Cereal (whole wheat), Corn Flakes, Pasta, Rice, Vegetables (tinned), Tomato Pulp (tinned), Fruit (tinned), Tuna, Sausages (tinned), Baked Beans (tinned), Couscous, Pulses, Tea and Coffee.

This food package is distributed 3 times a year.

Eligibility

General eligibility criteria:

  1. Families who receive non-contributory benefit and pass the Means Test and have 2 or more children under the age of 16 years
  2. Families who have 2 or more children under the age of 16 years old and have an income of less than 80% of the National Minimum Wage
  3. Families who have 2 or more children under the age of 16 years and whose income does not exceed the National Minimum Wage
  4. Families (and not single persons) receiving a non-contributory Age Pension
How to apply

An eligible person does not have to submit an application to benefit from this scheme.

The food packages will be distributed in 16 centres spread around Malta and Gozo to facilitate as much as possible the collection of food to those who are eligible.

Those who will benefit from this program will receive a letter in advance informing them that they are eligible as well as informing them from which the centre, dates and time they can collect the food package/s they are entitled to.

Contact details

For any information regarding eligibility under the FEAD Programme and with regards to this Programme in general, please contact the Project Leader – FEAD Programme on 25903373 or by sending an e-mail on fead.family@gov.mt.

For any other assistance during the food distribution from the distribution centres, please phone on 22588929 or 79013090.