Foodbank: a help to those in need

The difficulties caused by COVID-19 also affect the needy in Hungary in the long run. The protracted effects of the crisis are now being tackled together by government, the economy and the civil society. The Ministry of Agriculture issued a decree this week aimed at helping food companies particularly affected by the crisis, while also helping those in need, so the decree also aims to improve their situation.

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25/2020 issued by the Ministry of Agriculture this week within the framework of the National Food Crisis Management Program. (VI. 22.) AM provides an opportunity for food industry producers and processors to receive assistance in the form of non-refundable support, if the impact of the current epidemiological situation makes it necessary for them. The decree also stipulates that the large enterprises concerned must donate 10% of the requested support for charitable purposes, such as feeding the needy and distributing food donations to the disadvantaged.

This year, the 15-year-old Food Bank Association, in cooperation with 400 partner organizations nationwide, caters to nearly 300,000 deprived people – families, the elderly, children, the homeless – for whom such an opportunity can be life-saving. The experience of recent months shows that, unfortunately, the demand for food donations has increased significantly. However, in order to meet the increased demands, it is also necessary to increase the amount of food donations received by the Food Bank. In recent months, the Hungarian Food Bank Association has continuously provided for the needy, as in the first few months of the epidemic its stock increased with products that became redundant due to the outbreak of the virus, e.g. raw materials dropped from catering, seasonal Easter products or food dropped out of school supplies. However, the current option provided by the Ministry of Agriculture can provide secure care for the needy in the longer term.

“We are confident that the product donations provided by the companies benefiting from the assistance will facilitate many, many deprived everyday lives. The Food Bank is ready to distribute large quantities of food stocks, so it is still waiting for offers. We believe that the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture is a lifeline not only for companies, but also for the needy, ”said Balázs Cseh, President of the Food Bank Association.