Food banks running short of provisions
Food banks across Flanders are running out of provisions already, with several months of winter still to come. The charities are asking for donations of canned goods
Carrefour makes donating canned goods easy
“We get all sorts of people coming here, including those you might not expect,” said Monique Verdickt, chair of MvM and this year’s Antwerpenaar of the Year. “People just like me and the other volunteers.”
Aside from those picking up food parcels every week, there are 6,000 families in the city on a list, waiting for supplies to be available. “Now that it’s winter-time, fresh vegetables are less readily available,” said Jan Strijbos, a volunteer at the food bank. “So we have to give out canned goods. Luckily, we have a stock, but whether it will be enough to get through the winter is another question. If people have cans at home, they’re welcome to drop them by.”
Earlier this week, a new campaign began, organised by the Belgian Federation of Food Banks and Carrefour supermarkets. Shoppers can pay for food vouchers in Carrefour stores. Carrefour then supplies the related products – goods such as pasta, tuna and canned vegetables – directly to the food banks, without requiring customers to buy the food and deliver it themselves.
Image credit: Frederiek Vande Velde / imagedesk.be
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