Already 1 million procuring playing cards distributed

Posted on July 8, 2024

What are we having for dinner tonight? A stew, spaghetti and even take-away? For some individuals, it’s extra a query of whether or not they can eat something. As a result of there are 450,000 individuals within the Netherlands who dwell in hidden meals want, they usually have to show each euro to make ends meet.

To assist individuals who shouldn’t have sufficient cash to purchase sufficient and wholesome meals, we’ve been distributing grocery playing cards since 2020. Initially to provide individuals a lift within the aftermath of the corona pandemic. However life has solely turn out to be costlier, and increasingly individuals are experiencing meals shortages.

We additionally see this mirrored within the demand for procuring playing cards: each week we distribute 1000’s of procuring playing cards price €21.50.

Meals scarcity not lowered

Suzanne Segaar, head of Nationwide Assist of the Crimson Cross, says: “Lately, we’ve helped 1000’s of households with multiple million grocery playing cards. Sadly, we see that the meals scarcity has not decreased. Quite the opposite, there are nonetheless individuals on ready lists for short-term assist.”

Between a rock and a tough place

Shazia Ishaq (37) additionally notices this. Shazia is the founding father of the MOI basis. The MOI basis helps lots of of households with language schooling and integration, and presents a listening ear. On behalf of the Crimson Cross, Shazia distributes grocery playing cards by means of her basis.

“It’s heartbreaking to see so many individuals falling between the cracks. Mother and father typically should work a number of jobs to place meals on the desk within the night. This causes huge stress. These households earn just a bit an excessive amount of to qualify for the meals financial institution, however shouldn’t have sufficient left to purchase sufficient groceries,” Shazia explains.

Having the ability to sleep usually once more

Happily, the grocery card is a ray of hope for many individuals. For instance, Shazia says that one of many males who will get a grocery card from her can now sleep at a traditional time and put his youngster to mattress himself. “This father needed to work two jobs to make ends meet. Because of the grocery card, he now not has to work double shifts within the evenings, which provides him time for his household and thus much less psychological stress.”

Assist by means of colleges

We additionally provide the grocery card by means of colleges. With this, we’ve helped greater than 35,000 youngsters at over 600 colleges within the Netherlands since 2023. However now this program is in peril of getting to cease on the finish of the 12 months. The federal government should discover a structural resolution, as a result of everybody within the Netherlands has the fitting to ample and various meals.

Buying buddy

Since final 12 months, we’ve been calling on these concerned to donate a number of meals to individuals in want of meals. On this approach, you assist individuals in want of meals for six months within the type of a grocery card. As a grocery buddy, you present monetary assist to, for instance, younger households with a number of youngsters, single mother and father, but additionally lonely aged individuals. You is usually a grocery buddy from €3 monthly, which is the same as one meal in keeping with the Nibud.