German Red Cross reports greater influx of clothing stores, food banks and debt advice

Enlarge image

Employees of a food bank in Saxony-Anhalt unload boxes with donated food (symbol image)

Photo: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert / dpa

The consequences of the increased energy and food prices are now clearly noticeable at one of the largest German welfare organizations.

»We notice that in the clothing stores, the food banks or the debt advice service.

The need has increased significantly, and with it the use," said the President of the German Red Cross (DRK), Gerda Hasselfeldt, the "Rheinische Post".

According to Hasselfeldt, the increased economic uncertainty for many people also has consequences for people's psyches.

According to this, more people need attention and care, and the “tendency towards loneliness” is also increasing.

The DRK is trying to counteract this with children and young people, among other things, by strengthening school social work, said Hasselfeldt.

However, as with debt counseling, there is no reliable financing.

Tafel in Germany are working at the limit

The situation at the food banks in Germany has been tense for months.

"The situation of the food banks in Germany is more challenging than ever before in the 30-year history," said the umbrella organization of the food banks.

More customers would come, while at the same time less food would be donated.

Meanwhile, the rise in energy prices and record inflation are continuing a long-standing trend – or exacerbating it: According to a study by the Hans Böckler Foundation, poverty in Germany has increased significantly over the past ten years.

According to this, the financial deficit of households below the poverty line compared to the median income of the entire population had grown by a third compared to 2010 even before the start of the corona crisis.

Higher donation volume – also because of the Ukraine war

The increased need for aid is offset by more donations at the DRK this year.

»This year the willingness of the citizens to help and donate was very high.

We will receive more than 150 million euros in donations," said Hasselfeldt.

Of this, around 118 million euros were for the Ukraine aid.

In 2021, the DRK had received more than 100 million euros in donations.

This sum was already above average.

At that time, many people had donated for those affected by the flood disaster in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia.

fek/dpa