Food banks lower the threshold for receiving a food package, so more people can go there from now on. This is happening because the cost of living for people has risen, said Vice President Tom Hillemans of Food Banks Netherlands on Saturday.
Food banks look at the number of family members, income and fixed costs. A single parent with two children could receive a food package first if they have less than 450 euros a month left over, for example for food and drinks. This amount is now at 520 euros.
According to Hillemans, lowering the threshold will likely result in more people using the food bank. But how much longer, he says, is not yet possible to say.
The umbrella organization is worried if enough food continues to arrive at the food banks. Donors, including supermarkets, provide less because they have taken measures against food waste. This leaves less for the food banks.
Last month, food banks in the Netherlands already announced that the total number of people collecting food from the food bank has increased by around 10% in the past two months. This includes older people with an AOW allowance, who in the past could pay the fixed costs but are no longer able to do so.
