Food costs are increasing – the situation of the poor is worsening

A survey commissioned by the National Network of Poverty Alleviation Organizations revealed that every seventh resident of the country faces difficulties in obtaining food. Among persons whose income is less than 500 euros per month, every third person lacked food. Residents with the lowest income apply for support to the Municipality, and they are taken care of by “Maisto bankas”.
35 percent more expensive, one percent cheaper
Lithuania is one of the five countries of the European Union, where food expenses of the population make up the largest part of the total expenses every month – 20 percent. More is spent only in Romania, Slovakia, Latvia and Bulgaria, and the smallest share of expenses – one tenth – is in Ireland, as well as in Luxembourg, Austria, Germany, where salaries are much higher.
Food prices in Lithuania have reached the average of the European Union and the level of Germany, but we spend twice as much on food. The situation has not changed for 7-8 years, although statistically salaries are growing.
Food is a commodity of the first necessity, and the decreasing share of expenditure on food would mean the increasing purchasing power of the population: people would have the opportunity to spend more money on goods and services that are not the first necessity.
In a couple of years, food products in Lithuania have risen in price by 35 percent, and in recent months they have fallen in price by only 1 percent on average. – the residents didn’t even notice it. In the public space, we hear groans that everything is expensive, and at the same time, that we live well: supermarkets are full of people, they are barely able to push carts loaded with various food products.
And yet, not all residents of the country have the opportunity to buy what they want in a store – there are many ways to live a dignified life.
Why is it scary to go to the store?
“Every week I spend 150 euros on basic food products, and before 100 was enough (not counting eggs and milk),” revealed Jurgita Andronatij from Kretinga, who is raising 4 children. – But these products are only for breakfast and dinner, because on weekdays we have lunch in the city, lunch for two children at school costs 3.5 and 4.5 euros, and my teenage son needs to eat lunch twice. We cannot save on food – there are two athletes in the family. I have to work a lot: my husband works two full-time jobs, and I also work more. 10% of my salary is left for other expenses. Saving funds slows down our environmental management work.”
Gargždiškė Danguolė (name changed), who celebrated her 85th birthday this year, receives a pension of 480 euros. A widow. “I’m afraid to go to the store – everything is expensive: milk, butter, sour cream, bread, and after all, you want both fish and meat,” said the pensioner. – You have to calculate a lot, I buy less, but I don’t look for discounts, because I made sure that second-rate products (except sugar), which have to be thrown away, are sold cheaper.”
The sky revealed that her life was not pampering, especially the misery in the collective farm. “For 8 years, I did the most difficult work with other collective farmers – we raised agriculture, but we didn’t get anything, and these years were not included in the length of service. So I had to work until I was 70 – I have 36 years of service, but the pension is pathetic. You need not only food, but also medicines and taxes to pay, that’s why I still clean the stairs and after receiving one and a half hundred euros a month, I make ends meet.”
Food packages have been replaced by cards
According to Simons Gurevičius, head of the charity and support fund “Maisto bankas”, as the prices of food and services increase, more and more people are forced to turn to support organizations. It is estimated that every fifth inhabitant of the country is at risk of poverty in Lithuania, and every ninth person admits that they face difficulties in providing themselves with food. Currently, “Maisto bankas” supports 232 thousand of the country’s struggling people. Their food baskets contain food products that ensure satiety: oil, bread, flour, they are very happy to receive meat or fish.
Last year, 210 thousand received the penultimate ration. of the country’s population, and 3,010 in the Klaipėda district. Until this year, according to the project financed by the European Aid to the Most Poor Fund, poor residents received long-lasting products, and this year cards are distributed and they themselves decide what to buy. However, they will be able to choose only the products they need or like.
Klaipėda district municipality received 1,190 requests for issuing these cards. EUR 25 per person per quarter will be transferred to the card of the selected network. In addition, 889 donation requests were received. “Donation – donated food collected by “Maisto bankas” from shops, farmers, as well as products collected during various promotions”, explained the manager of “Maisto bankas”. Persons whose average monthly income does not exceed 264 euros have the right to receive this support, as well as social cards.
Before Easter – gift baskets
Last weekend, in three shopping centers in Gargždai and Priekulė, the spring action of “Maisto bankas” gathered benefactors. For two days, volunteers from three institutions invited the needy to donate non-perishable food products. According to Airida Žvirblė, coordinator of the network of “Maisto bankas” organizations, a total of 2,684 units of food products were donated for 4,509 euros. “Most of the donations were oil, as well as pasta, semolina, sugar and preserves. Less – biscuits, tea or other products”, A. Žvirblė told “Bangai”.
Jurinda Jasevičienė, head of the Klaipėda district family support center, assured that the campaign went well. “For the first time, the new Gargždai Lidl store hosted a “Maisto bankas” campaign. We collected 938 units of food products – most of them donated cereal and pasta,” she said. The volunteers are satisfied that there were no misunderstandings – people donated in good faith.
Food packages will be distributed before Easter to people who are struggling, for whom this center provides social services. “Now everything is expensive – pensioners are counting to support themselves, it’s even more difficult for people with disabilities. We will support elderly, disabled people with the lowest income”, said J. Jasevičienė.
Donated to the needy
Volunteers of the social services center in Priekulė, who worked at the Maxima shopping center in this city, collected 813 units of food products – similar to the fall. They are satisfied with the benevolence of the buyers – those who wanted donated, and there are no complaints like before. And here people mainly donated pasta, oil, sugar, flour and many other products.
The director of this center, Vilija Lingiene, emphasized that the food packages made from them will be distributed to low-income persons, when one family member has less than 264 euros per month. It will be distributed not only to Priekulė wards, but also to people living in poverty.
“Food products are very expensive – it is difficult to survive on a small pension or allowance,” V. Lingienė told “Banga”. – It is also difficult for families with many children who earn only minimum wages. So they apply to the municipality for social cards.”
She lamented the fact that she had run out of last-day groceries, which she used to get from the supermarket UP TO 3 times a week. This was a great support for poorer people. According to V. Lingienė, pensioners know how to save, but receiving a pension of 500 euros requires a lot of calculation. “For example, a single pensioner living in the city needs about 200 euros for heating and other fees, and the remaining 300 euros – not only for food, but also for medicines and hygiene products,” said the interviewer.
It is better to give than to receive
Benefactors donated 1,033 items to the volunteers of the Gargžda Social Services Center who worked at the Maxima shopping center. non-perishable foods. According to the deputy director of this center, Vilma Bružienė, people realized that it is necessary to support the struggling, low-income people. Food packages will be prepared from these products, which will enrich the Easter table of people living in poverty.
“It cannot be said unequivocally that everyone lives well – there is a social group in society whose members, due to health, illness or other problems, find themselves on the sidelines, in poverty, and their income is greatly reduced. We must be empathetic: if we are capable, let’s help those living in poverty so that they too feel better. Giving is better than taking”, said V. Bružienė.
Virginia LAPIENĖ
A. VALAIČIOS associative photo. from the “Banga” archive