The Alcala-Alcossebre Food Bank has tripled its initial estimate and serves 189 families in need during the lock-down
![[Img #78914]](http://el7set.es/upload/images/06_2020/5716_0806-banco-alimentos.jpg)
The Alcala-Alcossebre Food Bank, managed by the Social Welfare Department and the Azahar Health Resources Association, has served a total of 189 families with 378 users served in a year. This is a significant increase compared with other years, motivated by the financial crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation resulted in the initial estimate forecast having to be tripled, due to the increase in the number of families which found themselves in a financially vulnerable situation and needed to depend on the food bank distribution service. Initially, the municipal estimate for the Food Bank for the year 2020 was envisaged at 3,000 euros but, driven by the increase in requests from families affected by the financial crisis which the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it, the council increased it by 3,000 more euros to reach 6,000 euros. Now, via the request presented by the Council, the Alcala-Alcossebre Food Bank has been accepted as an Associated Organisation for distribution in the 2020 Programme of the European Aid Fund for the Most Disadvantaged People (FEAD) which means that in July and September two consignments of foodstuffs valued at more than 3,000 euros will be received. In this way, the Food Bank’s initial estimate has been multiplied by three times aiming that no family in a vulnerable financial situation would be without assistance. The type of foods which are distributed are the non-perishable ones like cooked vegetables, preserves, pasta, infant food, milk, shakes and olive oil and the parcels are prepared bearing in mind the needs of each family.
Social Welfare councillor, Marien Traver, explained that “it is evident that many families which did not make use of this social resource before had to come in order to be assured of food. In many cases, it was people affected by ERTEs who still had not received their help and people who had stopped their earning activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic”. Traver assessed very positively “entering and forming part of the FEAD 2020 Programme as this means that, twice a year, we shall receive a large consignment of foodstuffs which will increase the provisions of our local Food Bank”.
The Alcala-Alcossebre Food Bank, managed by the Social Welfare Department and the Azahar Health Resources Association, has served a total of 189 families with 378 users served in a year. This is a significant increase compared with other years, motivated by the financial crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation resulted in the initial estimate forecast having to be tripled, due to the increase in the number of families which found themselves in a financially vulnerable situation and needed to depend on the food bank distribution service. Initially, the municipal estimate for the Food Bank for the year 2020 was envisaged at 3,000 euros but, driven by the increase in requests from families affected by the financial crisis which the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it, the council increased it by 3,000 more euros to reach 6,000 euros. Now, via the request presented by the Council, the Alcala-Alcossebre Food Bank has been accepted as an Associated Organisation for distribution in the 2020 Programme of the European Aid Fund for the Most Disadvantaged People (FEAD) which means that in July and September two consignments of foodstuffs valued at more than 3,000 euros will be received. In this way, the Food Bank’s initial estimate has been multiplied by three times aiming that no family in a vulnerable financial situation would be without assistance. The type of foods which are distributed are the non-perishable ones like cooked vegetables, preserves, pasta, infant food, milk, shakes and olive oil and the parcels are prepared bearing in mind the needs of each family.
Social Welfare councillor, Marien Traver, explained that “it is evident that many families which did not make use of this social resource before had to come in order to be assured of food. In many cases, it was people affected by ERTEs who still had not received their help and people who had stopped their earning activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic”. Traver assessed very positively “entering and forming part of the FEAD 2020 Programme as this means that, twice a year, we shall receive a large consignment of foodstuffs which will increase the provisions of our local Food Bank”.
