Ruokapankki named Helper of the Year at Tampere's 'Year of Courage' awards
Ruokapankki, Tampere Parish’s food bank, was named Helper of the Year at the Year of Courage awards held in Hämeenpuisto on August 27.
Tamperelainen reports the Year of Courage awards were presented in Hämeenpuisto on August 27. Organisers named Ruokapankki, Tampere Parish’s food bank, Helper of the Year; they also honoured Minna Minkkinen as Influencer of the Year, gave a cooperation award to Pirkanmaan Osuuskauppa and recognised Classic Salibandy for the year’s notable action.
Demand for food aid in Tampere is unusually high. Ruokapankki was founded in 1995 as Finland’s first food bank and operates as part of Tampere Parish’s diaconal work. It collects edible surplus from shops, industry and professional kitchens, sorts and packs it, and distributes aid through a broad partner network. In 2025 the food bank provided food aid more than 178,000 times.
"This recognition feels especially meaningful because the Food Bank's work is above all about people," Ruokapankki executive director Tanja Lähteenmäki said in a press release. "We want to help ensure that a person in a difficult life situation gets food, is seen and does not feel alone."
The award comes amid this unusually high demand earlier this year when Tampere saw record demand for food aid.
Earlier coverage
Catch the full story over at Tamperelainen
