Vienna relief organization sounds the alarm: food donations are collapsing!

Vienna relief organization sounds the alarm: food donations are collapsing!

The situation surrounding food and goods donations in Vienna is becoming alarming, like that Vienna relief organization reported. In recent years, the number of people affected by poverty in Vienna has increased significantly, which is particularly noticeable during the run-up to Christmas. Two social markets, one in Neubau and one in Penzing, are affected by a systematic decline in donations. This makes it increasingly difficult for social organizations to fulfill their important tasks.

Managing director Simon Blatzer describes that donated goods have fallen by 10 percent; last year the amount was 914 tons. The lack of fresh fruit and vegetables is particularly pronounced, which makes access to healthy nutrition significantly more difficult for people at risk of poverty. According to Blatzer, over 8,000 households are supplied by the social markets - a doubling in just two years. This shows the increasing need and pressure on social institutions that help those in need.

The importance of food donations

From an economic point of view, food donations create threefold added value: They support people in need, bring savings for retailers and promote the sustainable use of resources. Despite these advantages, retailers are increasingly providing less food. This phenomenon is not only observed in Austria, but reflects a general trend like that Deutschlandfunk culture describes.

The Tafel in Germany, which has been providing food to people in need for 30 years, reported an increase in the number of people in need by a total of 500,000 in the last five years. The reasons for this include the corona pandemic, inflation and the war in Ukraine. There, too, the decline in food donations is alarming, with some food banks receiving up to 50 percent less while demand soared.

As in Vienna, the German food banks, which are often supported by volunteers, are increasingly having to buy in food, which calls into question their original mission. The disadvantaged clientele of the Tafel has expanded and now includes many Ukrainian refugees.

Social responsibility and outlook

The current situation is a wake-up call for society to think more intensively about supporting people in need. It is up to each individual to support social organizations through donations so that even in difficult times, help reaches where it is most urgently needed. Blatzer from the Vienna Relief Organization emphasizes that the challenge should not discourage us, but rather motivate us to help quickly and in a targeted manner.

Donations of food and goods are not only a contribution to combating poverty, but also an important element of sustainable business. It remains to be hoped that society in Vienna and beyond recognizes the difficulties and actively supports the aid organizations.