Food Bank: The “chain” of solidarity is growing

Trucks with pallets of food move back and forth at a steady pace from Kryoneri, where the warehouses of the Food Bank – Foundation for Combating Hunger and Waste are located, to the entire country. The 2023 report of its activities, a year in which inflation was rampant, affecting the finances of thousands of households, highlights the importance of increasing its actions and meeting the population’s growing needs. The seven branches of the Food Bank – Attica, Thessaloniki, Epirus, Thessaly, Drama, Western Greece, and Crete – supported a total of 128,303 of our fellow citizens through the distribution of 2,148 tons of food. In the previous year, 2022, the beneficiaries totaled 112,126 people, and the total aid reached 2,172 tons. “A significant development for us was the establishment of the seventh bank, in Western Greece, based in Patras, which is managed by the organization Co2gether,” notes the chairman of the board of the Food Bank – Foundation for Combating Hunger and Waste, Panagis Vourloumis, in his annual report. “We cover more than 70% of the country’s population,” he emphasizes.

Support for Flood Victims

In the midst of an unspeakable disaster, the presence of a Food Bank in Larissa proved to be lifesaving. “The branch there already had structure and a network, so it was able to activate immediately,” notes Dimitris Nentas, general director of the Food Bank. “From the end of September, when the floods occurred, until the end of the year, the Food Bank of Attica received 29,053 kilograms of essential food from donations by 17 companies, always with the support of the SEVT (Hellenic Food Industry Association),” he explains. “Thanks to targeted monetary donations, an additional 7,766 kilograms of essential items were purchased.” The goods were stored in Athens and transported in stages to the facilities of the Thessaly Food Bank, while other companies delivered their donations directly to Larissa, with significant contributions from companies in Northern Greece. “Many of the flood victim support initiatives are continuing into 2024,” adds Mr. Nentas. For example, a major company, prioritizing children and elderly people, has already donated 2 tons of breakfast cereals and 70,000 cups of Greek coffee this year.

Among the 128,303 beneficiaries nationwide, children (41,748) are the largest group, followed by the elderly (31,431), people with disabilities (15,269), and immigrants (11,960). Last year, 19 nursing homes, 208 soup kitchens, 21 child care institutions, 35 disability support organizations and mental health centers, 22 municipalities, 14 shelters, 6 rehabilitation centers, 5 migrant and refugee support structures, and 3 hostels were supported. “In Food Banks based in smaller towns, goods are also provided directly to families facing financial difficulties, as the residents know each other,” notes Mr. Nentas.

In addition to what companies provide, food and essential item collection campaigns are now being conducted from citizen donations within supermarkets.

The philosophy of the Food Bank, which belongs to the European Food Banks Federation (FEBA), is twofold: it helps reduce food waste and disposal, while offering assistance to those facing food insecurity. “Until recently, we collected food from food industries, supermarket chains, wholesalers, agricultural cooperatives, etc., products that were suitable for consumption but had a short expiration date or defective packaging, which we stored under the appropriate conditions and distributed to institutions and soup kitchens,” he describes the “chain” of solidarity. Gradually, however, the bank has expanded its activities. “We frequently carry out collect actions (i.e., food collection from citizen donations in supermarkets), and in 2023, we collected 54 tons of food and other essential items through this process,” he notes. “We have started a collaboration with companies at the central vegetable market to secure fresh fruits and vegetables, something that has been a long-standing request from our partners.” Finally, the umbrella program “Emergency Food Fund” has been created, through which individuals can donate money, allowing the food bank to specifically purchase what is necessary to meet the food needs of its beneficiaries. It should be noted that the foundation’s finances are audited by Deloitte, and the new programs mentioned above are audited by the Crowe S.O.L. (Certified Auditors Body).

According to Eurostat, one in ten people in Greece faced food insecurity in 2022. A survey conducted on behalf of the Food Bank in 2023 confirms this data. “61% of soup kitchens help people who cannot afford at least one meal a week, while 30% of soup kitchens receive daily requests they cannot meet,” Mr. Nentas notes.

Dilemmas

“The sharp increase in the price of olive oil has confronted us with dilemmas,” Mr. Nentas concludes. “Many times, we secured funds to purchase olive oil, and by the time we made the necessary moves, the price had risen again,” he recalls. “We found ourselves wondering: should we buy the expensive oil, or perhaps use the same funds to supply the facilities with non-perishable food?”