Amazon and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are working with Altius Foundation, a social action non-profit in Spain, to speed up the delivery of meals to families in need. A new tool, developed by AWS, digitalises operations and reduces waiting times, allowing the foundation to spend more time delivering aid and interacting with community members.
We started working with Altius Foundation on food donation 12 years ago, and in 2024, we delivered more than three million meals to families in Spain. Today, the collaboration encompasses weekly deliveries of 4,000kg of food from Amazon Fresh, training programmes, and the use of AWS technology for inventory management.
“At Amazon, we believe that access to food is a fundamental right. This is why we work with organisations worldwide that fight food insecurity,” said María Baquedano, Head of Insight, Innovation and Social Impact in Amazon Spain and Portugal. “Our collaboration with Altius Foundation is one of our most comprehensive and advanced programmes globally, pioneering in many ways.”
Technology and logistics at the service of people
AWS developed the new tool through its pro bono AWS Giveback programme. It digitises and automates much of the foundation’s goods reception and distribution processes. The result is a significant improvement in service delivery, with reduced waiting times and more capacity for counselling and supporting those in need.
“The most important thing about this collaboration is that it is transforming real lives through a comprehensive model that combines technology, logistics and human commitment,” said Pablo Aledo, CEO of Altius Foundation. “Every day we reach more people who need support.”
We also offer vocational training at Altius, through programmes such as AWS re/Start, an initiative focused on reskilling unemployed people and connecting them with companies. One participant, Midhun Michael , was hired by Altius Foundation after participating in the training, and worked on the development and deployment of a new app.
“I came here looking for support and found much more,” said Midhun. “Thanks to the foundation and the AWS re/Start programme, I not only received technical training, but also a real opportunity to change my life. Today, I am proud to be able to help others from within.”
Joint response to the emergency in Valencia
The strength of the partnership with Altius Foundation was particularly evident during the floods that affected south-eastern Spain last October. We mobilised our European Disaster Relief Hub, regional distribution network and dozens of employee volunteers.
Together with Altius, we set up a Humanitarian Aid Centre in Valencia in just 48 hours, enabling volunteers on the ground to quickly receive and distribute essential supplies to other NGOs, neighbourhood associations and local councils in the affected areas of Valencia. In total, we donated 265,000 essential items and facilitated the delivery of more than two million items donated by institutions, companies and citizens from all over Spain, covering more than 500,000 kilometres in the process.
