Demand in food banks in Catalonia has increased by 30% as a result of the COVID-19 crisis

Food banks in Catalonia are currently serving 256,000 people through 636 entities, 60,000 more than before the pandemic. They also warn that this situation could worsen, if not improve the economy, when exceptional social protection measures, such as ERTOs, end.

The COVID-19 crisis has broadened the profile of people who turn to food banks: they are no longer just people in severe poverty, but also middle- and low-income families, and young couples who they have lost their jobs. 30% of people who applied for help during the first year of the pandemic had never needed it before.

One year after the start of the pandemic, the demand for food aid persists. Food banks in Catalonia have seen an increase in demand of 30% in the last year. With the aim of halting this increase, the ”la Caixa” Foundation and CaixaBank are promoting the second edition of the “No home without food” solidarity campaign. The president of the Catalan Federation of Food Banks, Roser Brutau; the director of the Food Bank of Barcelona Foundation, Lluís Fatjó-Vilas; the Deputy General Manager of the ”la Caixa” Foundation, Marc Simón, and the Corporate Director of Social Action of the CaixaBank Network, Pedro Huguet, presented the “No home without food” action at an event and called on solidarity.

Last year, the action raised 700,000 euros in Catalonia and a total of 3.4 million euros in Spain as a whole, with which 3,600 tons of basic food were obtained. Specifically, in Catalonia, 785 tons were obtained. “The pandemic is having serious consequences, to the point that millions of people cannot meet their most basic needs and are forced to turn to food banks. In the current context, what should be most contagious is solidarity, which is why we are strengthening our commitment to social organizations by relaunching this much-needed campaign, ”said the Deputy Director General of the” la Caixa ”Foundation. ”, Marc Simón. "Demand for food has grown exponentially and steadily. Food banks are making an extraordinary effort to be able to respond appropriately. We need a lot of help because there are hundreds of thousands of people who are currently in a situation of food insecurity in Catalonia. It is essential and urgent that we guarantee them access to a sufficient, varied and healthy diet "***, says the director of the Food Bank Foundation, Lluís Fatjó-Vilas.

“Social commitment is one of CaixaBank's fundamental values ​​and an essential and differentiating factor in its model. That is why we are committed to promoting projects such as this. We collaborate by providing essential resources to be able to develop them and mobilize contributions through the new digital means of payment and online banking, channels in which CaixaBank is a leader and reference, with more than 7 million customers » , indicates the corporate director of Social Action of the CaixaBank Network, Pedro Huguet.

According to the Catalan Federation of Food Banks, the demand for aid increased by about 30% after the start of the pandemic and the food banks in the four provinces served 60,000 more people than the previous year. Attendance is currently being provided to 256,000 people through 636 collaborating social entities.

New groups ask for help from food banks

As a result of the pandemic, it has been detected that the profile of people who go to food banks has widened: not only people in severe poverty no longer need food, but also families who had average incomes before the crisis or casualties, and young couples who have lost their jobs.

30% of people who have asked for help during the first year of the pandemic have never needed it until now, according to the latest study by the Table of Entities of the Third Social Sector of Catalonia. In addition, this situation could be aggravated, according to food banks, if there is no rise in economic recovery when exceptional social protection measures, such as ERTOs, end. From April 20, all citizens will be able to channel their financial support to families in a situation of vulnerability who are forced to turn to the food banks of Catalonia.

How can you collaborate?

From April 20th, donations can be made through the CaixaBank ATM network, the largest network in Spain; through CaixaBank NOW, both in the app and on the web, and also through the CaixaBank corporate portal, for those who are not customers of the institution. Another collaboration option is through Bizum, by sending the donation to number 38014.

All the information about the campaign and the different forms of collaboration can be found on the website www.capllarsensealiments.org.