The plaques in Germany warn of a dramatic increase in social need as a result of the corona crisis. Due to job losses and short-time work, thousands of additional people are already dependent on food supplies, and a further increase can be expected, said association chairman Jochen Brühl to the Evangelical Press Service (EPD). “People who are already suffering from poverty experience this crisis even more drastically,” he emphasized. “Corona in a five-room apartment on Prenzlauer Berg is difficult, but in Duisburg or in the north of Essen on 50 square meters single parent with two children – it becomes clear once again what the differences are.”
–
For the nationwide more than 940 boards with a total of 1.6 million users, the measures to reduce contacts are a great challenge, said Brühl. Because this is where many people come together in some confined spaces, and around 90 percent of the total of 60,000 volunteers belong to the risk group due to their age or previous illnesses. In the meantime, around 450 facilities were closed. By changing their work, more than a hundred panels have now been reopened, especially in larger cities.
According to the EPD survey, the panels from Kiel to Munich reorganized their operations. In Potsdam, the operator switched to delivery service, other cities have similar concepts. In Frankfurt am Main or Munich, instead of various table shops, there is a central issue with fixed pick-up times.
The bars in Berlin, on the other hand, pre-pack the food bags or baskets in order to then dispense or deliver them. Similar to Berlin, such a system is also practiced by the boards in Hamburg, Bremen, Osnabrück, Karlsruhe and Nuremberg. The helpers work everywhere with face masks and gloves, and access is restricted in open delivery points.
–
A number of institutions have already registered an increase in demand for support. In cities such as Berlin or Dresden, demand continues to rise.
Brühl also warned that the facilities would continue to face major problems even after the contact restrictions ended. A number of older helpers would probably no longer return to their honorary posts, and many young people who had stepped in would then probably not have the time. In addition, a decrease in both food donations from supermarkets and cash donations from companies is expected. “Without financial support from the state, the food banks will have difficulties in the medium term to accomplish their tasks,” said Brühl.
–
Broadcast: Radioeins, April 26, 2020, 10.30 a.m.
–
