More and more mouths to feed and less and less help. This is the conclusion drawn by the food bank of the Isere. Shortages threaten. The first product affected is milk, a true staple for the 74 associations and community centers for social action (CCAS) who provide food for the most deprived citizens thanks to the bank. Associations even admit not being able to live without it. And for good reason : at the rate of one litre per week per recipient, 20 000 litres are needed per month!
Shortages will appear early in 2014, according to Sylvain Gery, head of the food bank of the Isere.
The main cause for this shortage is the European Union, who divided by two the subsidies granted to the Fead (the European aid fund for the most deprived people) compared to last year. « In 2014, the Fead will provide us with 200 tons of food products, which does not even cover our consumption of milk« , specifies Sylvain Gery, who estimates the shortage at 40,000 litres for next year.
Besides and above all, the food bank counts on the generosity of each citizen. The nation-wide collection which will be taking place on the 29th and 30th of November, will hence be crucial.
In 2012, the association had gathered 200 tons of non-perishable goods during this collection. « This year, we will focus on the needs for milk. Our objective is therefore to get 20,000 litres in addition to the 200 tons of other foodstuff« , explains Sylvain Gery.
Collections represented 13 % of the resources of the food bank of Isère in 2012.
An ambitious campaign
Therefore the food bank will have to work twice as hard to make up for this shortfall. Industrials and department stores in particular will be more requested for help than in previous years. Bear in mind that in 2012, hyper and supermarkets had contributed 416 tons of food products. They had mainly provided products taken off the shelves shortly before their expiry date.
Donations from industrials are not enough. © Food bank of the Isère.
A special milk collection could even be planned during the first half of 2014, if the objectives were not reached. Valentin Dizier Translation by Sandra Bailly, Translator / Desktop Publishing specialist Tél. 06 95 87 15 27 – sandra.bailly79 [at] gmail.com
