The last Christmas packages are being prepared in the distribution center, quickly before the Christmas weekend. While packing and dropping off the Christmas packages, delivery is still ongoing.
Sausages and buttermilk
Although today’s loot is a bit disappointing, says Ruud Zondag, coordinator at Food Bank Deventer. One pallet arrived from Albert Heijn, one of the standard suppliers of the food bank.
Today’s delivery consisted of orange juice, blueberries, sausages and buttermilk. It was a little less than expected this time. “But the products are very nice,” says Zondag.
People show more solidarity with each other, which is really nice to see.
Vegetable
Around the Christmas period, more products come in from supermarkets than usual. This year is no different.
But Sunday does see a difference in what comes in via the suppliers. Because he has never seen so many vegetables as this year. “You even see whole bowls passing by with all kinds of vegetables on them, all beautifully made. Really made for Christmas. We normally never get that much.”
No increase in corona time
In total, more than 2100 customers of the food bank in Salland and Twente receive a Christmas package from the distribution center in Deventer. There, the Christmas hampers are prepared and then distributed to various local food banks.
Sunday expected a sharp increase in the number of customers at the food bank this year due to the corona pandemic. But that is not the case.
In fact, this year there was even a decrease in the number of households that knock on the door of the food bank. Figures from Food Banks Netherlands show that in June the number of households in the Netherlands receiving food aid was about 7 percent lower than a year ago.
On Sunday, however, is concerned that energy prices have risen sharply this autumn. “We do expect to see a real effect from that. I think the number of households that have to use the food bank will increase next year,” says Zondag.
Corona-effect
The number of households that use the food bank has therefore not increased, which does not mean that the corona pandemic has no effect on the food bank.
There is a shift taking place in the supply of items, sees Zondag. “You now see a lot of private initiatives emerging for people who want to contribute to the food bank. People show more solidarity with each other, which is really nice to see.”
.
