Food Bank in Toulouse: “Many more beneficiaries and fewer donations”
Faced with food inflation since the conflict in Ukraine, more and more people are struggling to get by. Director of the Toulouse Food Bank, Aurélie Racine fears the coming months and is sounding the alarm.
What is the current situation of the Food Bank of Toulouse?
Jvery worrying. Linked to a combination of factors, including the war in Ukraine and the inflation of food and fuel prices, but also to post-covid, the number of beneficiaries has exploded since mid-March. For the past few weeks, we have counted more than 3,000 beneficiaries per week.
What does this inflation produce?
Of the 5 million inhabitants of Occitania, 900,000 people are victims as poor, with – 60% of the median income. Or inflation directly impacts the food basket (+3% in April) of families with prices that continue to climb, especially for basic necessities. For example minced steak + 42%. People who are already in great difficulty are obviously the most supported. Same concern for the price of energy and fuel. Or some people need their car to go to work. Moreover, linked to this factor, the number of our volunteers has decreased. A first for ten years.
What do you fear in the coming months?
We have several fears: the first is the increase in people to help. The second fear is the shortage of basic products, some of which have become impossible to find (coffee, oil, sardines, etc.) Finally, the last fear is the drop in donations from the food industry (biscuits, preserves, etc.) and agricultural cooperatives: two sectors which represent approximately 35% of redistributed products. Like dairy products divided by five in one year.
You have also noticed that donations from individuals are becoming rarer.
Absolutely. A decline that could also be accentuated. A phenomenon linked according to the testimonies of donors, to the reduction of purchasing power and the fear of inflation. People would like to be generous but not the most for some. A discount which, it should be noted, depends on economic periods and trends. Some authorized besides to give nothing this year.
Who are the audiences most affected by this crisis?
Single-parent families, who with the inflation of the fuel energy duo, have been warned in precariousness. But also young people, seniors. So many categories of particularly vulnerable people that the economic system must continue to help and support.
What are the solutions in your opinion?
We need to make the world of agrifood aware of our cause to feed food and also financial donations. Large surfaces must also be mobilizing.
Can the food voucher provided by the State, which is scheduled to arrive this summer, solve this problem?
It is still a very vague tool. Not much is known about this device. Who will be the beneficiaries? What will be its amount? How will it be paid? Another question: will the tariff shield on energy prices (electricity and gas) put in place by the government until the end of 2022 be extended. That’s the question.
You also specify that this food aid must be integrated into a global system to fight against precariousness.
Of course. To avoid a spiral of dependence, the beneficiaries must be accompanied by listening and advice. It is a whole.
Secours Populaire: more and more in demand
Houria Tareb, secretary general of Secours Populaire 31, testifies: “Since mid-March and the war in Ukraine, we have been pushed further. In addition to welcoming Ukrainian women, we also welcome visitors (+40%) who were previously on the razor’s edge (precarious or part-time workers, single-parent families, young people, seniors) who have now fallen into precariousness. People forced to make a choice between paying the rent or filling up the car. “In supermarkets, donations of unsold food, close to the expiry date, have been reduced lately. Products distributed in addition to customers who encounter purchasing power problems. “The Secours populaire is therefore increasing its actions to welcome the beneficiaries with dignity: “In particular, we have set up openings on Saturdays to make arrivals more fluid and respond to emergency situations. We are also multiplying actions: sales of lily of the valley, clearance sales, food collections in supermarkets, shows…”