More and more people are getting food at the blackboard

The number of people who regularly get food at the table has increased significantly. According to a projection of the association, it has increased within a year by ten percent to 1.65 million.

The increase in senior citizens was particularly clear. In this group, the number of people who go to the table rose by 20 percent. The chairman of the association Tafel Germany, Jochen Brühl described this as "particularly dramatic".

Low pensions or basic old-age benefits are the second most common reason behind long-term unemployment for people to go to the table. "Of course that is very scary because we know that many people who are retirees are often ashamed to seek benefits," Brühl said. The tablets give the goods for free or for a small amount.

A recent study commissioned by the Bertelsmann Stiftung showed that more than one in five pensioners in Germany could be threatened with poverty in 20 years' time. "Old-age poverty will overrun us in the coming years with a force," said Brühl now. For years, the panels have already pointed to the problem - without "big litter" from politics or a social outcry. The topic is "at the top of the agenda", and profound reforms are needed.

It is also alarming that 50,000 more children and young people were supported than one year ago. As grows the "poverty of tomorrow", Brühl said.

On the other hand, the number of asylum seekers using the offer is declining - their share fell from 26 to 20 percent. In 2018, the topic had caused debates when the Essener Tafel temporarily stopped accepting foreigners as new customers.

The food waste in Germany - according to panel up to 18 million tons per year - called Brühl in view of the hunger in the world "perverse". 265,000 tonnes of surplus but still edible food is collected by traders and manufacturers every year.