The Zaqueo social dining hall has served over 46,000 people in the first half of 2026, a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2025, according to its president, Catalina Cunill.
Located in Palma, the Zaqueo social dining hall has recorded a historic increase in food distribution during the first half of 2026. With 46,000 people served, the figure exceeds that of the same period last year by more than 3,000, representing an increase of nearly 10%.
The president of the entity, Catalina Cunill, expressed her surprise at these figures, as she believed that 2025 had reached the peak of services. “Every month this year has had more distributions than the same month last year,” she noted.
Cunill clarified that the current demand does not reflect a situation of hunger, as was the case in the past, but rather the inability of many families to cope with basic expenses such as housing or bills. “For some time now, these are not queues of hunger, but of not being able to pay expenses,” she stated.
A record June breaks the seasonal trend
June, traditionally the weakest month for distributions due to the tourist season, surprised the dining hall by recording growth compared to the previous year. Cunill acknowledged that forecasts have become uncertain and that they now work “week by week.”
The entity expects demand to spike again starting in September, when the high season ends and many people lose their seasonal jobs. However, given the evolution of the data, Cunill prefers not to make long-term predictions.
The profile of beneficiaries has also changed. Migrants arriving by boat or from Latin America continue to seek assistance, but the group that has grown the most is retirees. “They have their pensions secured, but either they cannot meet their expenses or they are supporting their children and grandchildren,” Cunill explained.
Limited resources against unstoppable demand
The Zaqueo dining hall operates thanks to the support of the Balearic Government and altruistic donations. With only one salaried worker and the rest volunteers, their capabilities are limited. “We always have the spirit to keep going, but we cannot perform miracles,” Cunill warned.
For the residents of Palma who need help, Zaqueo remains an essential resource. The entity distributes basic food parcels and offers hot meals at its facilities. Cunill has made a call for citizen solidarity to maintain the pace of services.
The situation reflects an increasingly tense social reality in Mallorca, where rising housing costs and the increase in the cost of living are pushing more people to seek food assistance. The Zaqueo dining hall, with over a decade of experience, has become a barometer of the silent crisis affecting many households.
Looking ahead to the second half of the year, the entity expects numbers to continue rising. “If in June, which is a good month, we have grown, I don’t want to think about what will happen in autumn,” Cunill lamented. In the meantime, the dining hall continues its work, supported by a network of volunteers that is overwhelmed.
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