More than 90,000 meals, 30,000 bottles of water and soft drinks, and 150,000 cups of tea and coffee will be offered free of charge between October 8 and 15. Forty partners have joined the “Food for Pilgrims” project, initiated by Fiideajutor.ro.
90% of the project’s partners are members of HOTRECC, part of the Federation of Hospitality Industry Employers in Romania (FPIOR).
Restaurants, hotels, and food industry companies are mobilizing in Iași to provide free food and beverages with a total estimated commercial value of approximately RON 3 million during the feast of Saint Venerable Paraskeva. The “Food for Pilgrims” project, initiated by Fiideajutor.ro, the Good Deeds Platform of the Metropolitanate of Moldavia and Bukovina, has already brought together 40 partners, and registrations remain open.
Members of the Iași Regional Hospitality Council – HOTRECC are mobilizing to support the project through their own contributions and by involving their teams in preparing and distributing food. Of the 40 partners, 90% are HOTRECC members, including the Metropolitanate of Moldavia and Bukovina. The association supports these initiatives and encourages other hospitality operators to join.
20% Larger Mobilization Than Last Year, Despite Economic Challenges
For this year’s edition, partners estimate that they will distribute more than 90,000 meals, compared with nearly 75,000 meals provided in 2025, according to Fiideajutor.ro’s figures. In addition, approximately 30,000 bottles of water and soft drinks and 150,000 cups of tea and coffee will be offered to those taking part in the pilgrimage between October 8 and 15.
The increased volume of food prepared for pilgrims comes at a challenging time for the hospitality industry, as operators carefully manage their expenses. Contributions involve not only the food and beverages provided, but also the involvement of teams in preparation, packaging, transportation, and distribution, alongside their regular business activities.
“Every meal provided means ingredients, people to prepare it, utilities, packaging, and transportation. We are going through a period in which we carefully calculate every expense, but hospitality operators in Iași have nevertheless found a way to make room for initiatives like this. We, Romanians, have been taught that caring for others is a value. Ultimately, that is what hospitality is about: being there for people, including when things are not easy for you either.
We warmly welcome Romanians from across the country to Iași throughout the year, not only during these days, to discover both the city’s cultural heritage and modern Moldavian hospitality. We are pleased to have the Metropolitanate of Moldavia and Bukovina among HOTRECC’s members and to work together on initiatives that turn this care into action. Perhaps in this way we can also show those leading the country that it can be done when there is the will to do it,” said Alex Costea, President of HOTRECC.
October 8–15: A City-Wide Mobilization for Pilgrims Arriving in Iași
Throughout the eight-day period, participating companies are making their teams and production capacity available to support the free distribution of food and beverages. The support provided through the project brings together contributions from all partners, as well as donations received through the Fiideajutor.ro platform.
Many pilgrims travel hundreds of kilometers and wait in line for hours to venerate the relics of Saint Venerable Paraskeva. Access to food, water, and hot beverages helps them throughout the waiting period, particularly during the busiest days of the feast.
“We know that, at times, we may find this period difficult to deal with, but I believe we are called to change our perspective and become more welcoming and compassionate, just like our beloved saint. We see pilgrims waiting in line for hours and perhaps forget that behind every whispered prayer there is a person who may be tired, hungry, or cold,” said Father Cosmin Brînză, Director of Fiideajutor.ro.
New Partners Can Still Join the Project
Registration for the project remains open, meaning that the number of participants and the quantities provided may increase in the coming period. HOTRECC and Fiideajutor.ro invite all hospitality operators to join the project, according to the resources they are able to contribute.
Interested companies can contact the Fiideajutor.ro team to establish their contributions and participation details.
HOTRECC is a vice-president member employers’ organization within the Federation of Hospitality Industry Employers in Romania (FPIOR) and includes more than 80% of the economic operators active in Iași’s hospitality industry, including the Metropolitanate of Moldavia and Bukovina. It is therefore one of the most representative local hospitality associations in Iași.
The Federation of Hospitality Industry Employers in Romania (FPIOR) is the representative employers’ organization for the hospitality sector, with an active role in supporting and developing the industry. Through coordinated actions and institutional dialogue with public authorities and the business community, FPIOR promotes the interests of the hospitality industry and facilitates cooperation at national and international level.
The federation currently brings together more than 1,000 companies, representing 27 counties across Romania plus Bucharest, 33 employers’ organizations and associations, and more than 30,000 employees.
