Growing need: Tafel in Mittweida are fighting against a lack of donations!

Growing need: Tafel in Mittweida are fighting against a lack of donations!

More and more people in Germany are dependent on support. This unfavorable growth is particularly evident at the Tafel, which has been distributing food to people in need for 30 years and is thus sending an important signal against waste. Loud Free press Organizations in Mittweida report that the demand for food distribution has increased significantly, while at the same time the willingness to donate is noticeably decreasing. A concerned Anne Katrin Koch, head of a network, says the situation is alarming.

A practical example is provided by Daniela, who picks up a box from her local food bank once a week. This box contains a colorful mix of fruit, vegetables, pasta, canned goods, chips, yoghurt and rolls - foods that would not be accessible to many without this support. But in Mittweida, those in need now have to pay five euros for such a box, which further increases the burden for many people.

Growing challenges for food banks

The reasons for the increasing need are diverse: The combination of the corona pandemic, inflation and the war in Ukraine has put financial pressure on many households. Loud Deutschlandfunk culture The number of people who regularly use food banks has increased by half a million in the last five years. In 2022, around two million people affected by poverty were supported by around 960 food banks.

As the situation in Mittweida shows, the food banks are facing a massive challenge. Retailers donate significantly less food than in the past, which poses major problems for helpers. More and more food banks are forced to buy food themselves in order to be able to fulfill their mission. The volunteers, who already number 60,000, are facing enormous strain as a result.

Origin and development of blackboards in Germany

The first German food bank was founded in Berlin in 1993, and since then the number of food banks in Germany has continuously increased. At the moment, with around 962 food banks, there is a contact point for those in need in almost every district, a remarkable increase, according to data from Statista show.

• 1993: Gründung der ersten Tafel in Berlin
• Heute: Rund 962 Tafeln deutschlandweit

In recent years, the target group of food banks has diversified significantly. In addition to the homeless and people in extreme poverty, there are now also many senior citizens, single parents, large families, the unemployed, as well as students and Ukrainian refugees among the users. However, in order to receive a Tafel ID card, those in need must provide proof of their plight.

So the challenges are not getting any less. The food banks are at a critical point where their capacity is exhausted due to increasing numbers and declining donations. A third of the food banks have already suspended issuing new food bank cards. The situation remains tense and it is hoped that both retail and society can bring about much-needed change.