“All ska få mat”, in english “Everyone should get food”, is a non-profit association with the purpose of providing people in need with living essentials and spaces of understanding, connection and support. The organization aims to normalize asking for help and providing aid through people’s numerous challenges in life. Their target group is extremely broad ranging from single mothers and people on long-term sick leave to homeless individuals and elderly.

The effort was initiated by João Paulo as a facebook post and subsequently as facebook group during the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020. Many friends had privately reached out to João to ask for help as unemployment and long-term illness rose amongst the more vulnerable segments of society. Touched and motivated by people’s timid requests for help with money for food, a crew formed around the idea of a solidarity project, which would unconditionally provide people with essential necessities through some of the most difficult moments in their lives. The association was created around the idea that it shouldn’t be shameful to ask for help, as we all can end up in a position of need through the unexpected turns of life.

João Paulo, 35, moved from Brazil to Sweden when he was 20. He came from a family of 8 kids and a single mother and remembers vividly the hardships and poverty of his childhood and youth. Life was rough back then, so when arriving in Sweden, he wanted to dedicate himself professionally to helping others in need. “Alla ska få mat” has become a big part of his life and has given him deeper meaning and joy. He strongly believes that we must take care of each other, person to person, and not solely think about ourselves.

Many people lack basic support systems and in times of crisis the number increases and often exceeds the support that can be provided by institutions. Civil society and its numerous actors can jump in and pivot things for the better. Moreover, stigma around not being able to completely take care of yourself, interdependence so to speak, can make it difficult for people to reach out while they still can. It shouldn’t be embarrassing to ask for help and “Alla ska få mat” is providing a safe and dignified space to do it.

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The facebook group around “alla ska få mat” has developed into a generous online community of more than 5000, where people offer their support while others ask for help. Members assist each other with food, clothes and even paying outstanding bills. 

To persist long term, the project is currently looking for a sustainable financial set-up. From the beginning until recently, the project did not have financial support from the city, it was born out of love and generosity of individuals and companies donating each week to be able to buy groceries. Not to forget the many dedicated cooking volunteers. The organization receives donations in the range between 8000 - 10 000 SEK per month. Costs for the 200 portions they cook every Tuesday range between 2000 - 4000 SEK. Other costs include transportation of the portions to the people in need and renting the rooms and professional kitchens used for the project.

Last year the crew started collaborations with Stockholm Stad, which was able to find resources to support the rent of the spaces. Currently, “alla ska få mat” is looking into getting at least a part-time salary for João as the project takes half of his working week. Dedicated funding could support this project to expand from a weekly meal prep session and a couple of activities in a space the organization rents at Abrahamsberg to a purpose-run daily contributor to reducing the suffering of many.

The relentless dream of “Alla ska få mat” is to rent their own dedicated space in Stockholm where they can develop as a project. The main idea is to start a center that serves food everyday and invites people to mixed activities such as yoga, meditation, dance and art. The center would also act as a link, where someone could ask for psychological support and as a space to cover for a number of basic needs such as showering, hairdressing and clothes distribution. 

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Our role in this group's journey is small, but our spaces and members could support this initiative over a few months. In 2021, Joao got connected to Blivande’s members Bob and Nina, a creative duo running a small fine dining experience at the container square Frihamnstorget. They enabled this crew to use their professional kitchen throughout the warmer season. During summer of 2022, “Alla ska få mat” returned to the square and cooked and portioned hundreds of meals for people in need. Eventually, the project out-grew the space and needed bigger pots and facilities for their now 200 daily portions. We are truly proud to have been part of the initiatives development and hope that many more find support in developing social supportive civic action projects. 

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