Food Bank Against Hunger has supported over 100,800 people in the last four years – TVI24

Over the past four years, the Food Bank Against Hunger has collected less food, but reached more people, according to the institution, which indicate a 24% growth in the support granted to needy between 2011 and 2015.

in this period were supported more 100,800 people and 664 institutions they added the data of the Portuguese Federation of banks food Against Hunger, released on the eve of starting another food collection campaign.

in 2011, food banks helped 1,936 institutions, a number that grew to 2,600 in 2015. in terms of people supported was found an increase of 319,200 to 420,000 , which a third are children and another third, the elderly.

at the same time, decreased the amount of collected food, from 30,269 in 2011 to 27,726 in 2015, an increase of 24%.

Speaking to Lusa, the president of the federation, Isabel Jonet, he explained that this increase was due “to a very substantial increase in demand”, in 2011 and 2012, by the people and institutions due to the “effects of crisis, “but also the opening of two food banks (21) and the reputation of the institution.

with regard to the reduction of food collected last year, Isabel Jonet said that is mainly due to the fact that the Community Programme of food Aid for the Needy has ceased to be distributed through food banks and have passed to the authorities

“We continue to support the same number of institutions, or a little more, and the institutions supporting more people, what is happening is that distribute least amount comes from food banks, “he said.

About the participation of the Portuguese in traditional food collection campaign, Isabel Jonet said,” even in times of crisis, the Portuguese did not fail to contribute to the Food Bank. “

” Diversified campaign mode in some cases reduced the donation, but never failed to do, “he said, stressing that remain produced one million bags per year.

“what we see is that the bags are less crowded. People still give, but give less amount because they have less availability, “ he said.

However, said the official, last year, it was possible to distribute “a lot of fresh fruit” as a result of the Russian embargo on exports from the European Union.

“it was possible to increase the number of institutions and the number of people who received fresh produce and this is important” because “the fresh fruit and vegetables are key to a healthy diet and are the products that poor people cut immediately.”

at this time, requests for support have stabilized, but the number of granted support keeps If what Isabel Jonet attaches to the fact that there are more jobs.

“the pressure from consumer loans under the households did not increase that was one of the major critical factors of Portuguese families, but we do not see that there are more jobs and that made not reduce aid applications “, he said.

This year, the Food Bank of Lisbon celebrates 25 years, a time that Isabel Jonet considers important to Portugal and to analyze the that “it was possible to achieve” in terms of social support and volunteering.

“the food Bank is no more than one of the many institutions that exist, there is a different mission” to bring food to the institutions with support of volunteers.

to her, this work helped “to change volunteerism” and “profile of volunteers in Portugal”.

in addition, “it was possible to assist the structuring of a network of solidarity in Portugal as there are few in Europe “and that” allowed there so many consequences of the crisis “.

” Today it is easier to help people in need to because they themselves ask help, more proximity response, “he concluded.