Lower Saxony: Tafeln are concerned about autumn and winter

Created: 09/21/2022, 09:57 am

By: Moritz Serif

Groceries lie on a shelf at the Göttinger Tafel eV © Swen Pförtner/dpa/Archive picture

Because of inflation and rising prices, more and more people are queuing at the food banks.

However, there is less food to distribute.

Hanover – The situation for the food banks is getting worse as there are fewer goods to distribute but more people queuing for groceries.

In some locations, the demand has become too great for the supply.

So up-to-date in Hanover, where the board no longer accepts new registrations.

The Göttingen table, among others, had previously sounded the alarm.

"It has now reached a level that we have not grown with," said a spokesman for the board.

One hopes that this will remain an exception.

However, the demand had simply become too great.

The problem is not only the lack of staff, but also the lack of suitable places for food delivery.

In addition, energy costs have increased due to the Ukraine war.

Tafeln in Lower Saxony: Helpers have reached the limit

Long queues regularly formed in front of the delivery points for the 106 panels in Lower Saxony, said the chairman of the Lower Saxony/Bremen state association, Uwe Lampe.

This often leads to tensions among themselves.

Employees should therefore be trained in de-escalation strategies in the future.

But the Tafel helpers have also reached their limit, as they have been on duty almost continuously since the Corona pandemic.

Many of them need a break.

The food banks in Osnabrück have also seen a significant increase in customers since the beginning of the year.

Almost 15,000 people took advantage of the offers there in August.

In February there were still around 6,000 people.

The panels are said to be more stressed than ever before.

Lower Saxony state government has increased food bank funding

In mid-September, the state government of Lower Saxony increased its funding for the Tafel from 8,000 euros to 50,000 euros per year.

In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs announced that further funds would be made available for the construction of logistics centers. 

"In order to meet the massive increase in customer numbers, additional structures are necessary that the volunteer organization cannot cover alone," said Lampe.

Therefore, the rapid creation of distribution centers, targeted public relations work to recruit volunteers and the strengthening of coordination by the national association of food banks is a trend-setting overall concept.

(mse/dpa)