Before Christmas, the next edition of the Christmas Food Collection organized by food banks starts. As every year, donations made in stationary stores and payments in the charity online store will support those most in need. This year their number has increased. According to the Central Statistical Office data for 2023, 2.5 million people in Poland live in extreme poverty, and over 17 million live below the social minimum.
You can find them in many stores. In Szczecin, the food bank volunteers were helped by local Pogoń footballers. – It's like in football – you have to cooperate and this cooperation is also important here. We all want to live well, live with dignity and we certainly have to help each other – encourages Mariusz Malec, a player of Pogoń Szczecin. – We promote collecting food for poor and needy people – adds Piotr Bonarski, marketing director of Pogoń Szczecin.
The players encouraged and argued that it was worth sharing food. Just add something more to your cart when shopping.
– Just buy flour, groats, dried fruits and some sweets and throw them into the basket located at the cash registers. It doesn't cost us much, and we can make someone really have a happy Christmas – says Wiktoria Banasiak from the Food Bank in Szczecin. – It doesn't have to be anything expensive, it can be jelly or a kilogram of flour, these things really provide real support for people who need food – emphasizes Małgorzata Tomaszewska from the Food Bank in Tricity.
You can check where the Christmas collection takes place in our area at Food Banks website. The action will last until Saturday. Over two thousand stores in 500 cities take part in it.
– I always take part in such actions because I believe that we should help people in need – says one of the participants. – Because we want to share, if we have something to share, and I once experienced what it's like to not have anything – adds another participant.
Poverty in Poland has specific facesTVN24
Poverty Report
Every gesture counts, because what is in the basket will later go to those who every day face the dilemma of whether to pay bills or buy food. – The latest Central Statistical Office research for last year showed that two and a half million Poles live in extreme poverty – says Justyna Liptak from the Food Bank in Krakow.
The latest poverty report prepared by Szlachetna Paczka shows that it has not been this bad in Poland since 2015. More than half a million children and approximately 400,000 seniors live in extreme poverty. – Extreme poverty is a situation in which we really have nothing to live on, this is the moment when we are hungry, we have nothing to wear, we have no safe place to live – emphasizes Magdalena Łukasik, co-author of the Poverty Report, manager for research and analysis from the Wiosna Association.
On average, they have less than PLN 30 to survive for one day. – The reason is the economic situation and the fact that inflation last year had an impact on our wallets – points out Magdalena Łukasik.
That's why there are queues in the only community store in Tricity run by a food bank even before it opens. Poor people can take whatever they want from the shelf and pay nothing. – We have more and more people of working age who drop out of the labor market, have a difficult time, and end up in a food bank because they have no money to support themselves – says Małgorzata Tomaszewska.
This is a reason to help even more, so that food bank warehouses fill up even faster. – Food banks cooperate on a daily basis with aid organizations that have verified beneficiaries. These are mainly children, single mothers, seniors, homeless and disabled people – says Wiktoria Banasiak.
The Food Bank examined how the poorest Poles cope. “Either you eat or you heal”Renata Kijowska/Fakty TVN
How else can you help?
There are over 30 food banks operating in Poland. Every day they recover food from stores, wholesalers and producers. Stationary collections are held twice a year – on Christmas and Easter. – We operate as a charity wholesaler that redistributes to other entities that know local needs – explains Justyna Liptak.
You can also help without leaving home – via the website zbiorkazywnosci.pl. The money collected in this way will be used to buy groceries. – It would be good to show this charity – says Justyna Liptak. – Helping brings even more joy – adds Piotr Bonarski. – Helping is cool – encourages Mariusz Malec.
This is the 28th edition of the Christmas campaign. Last year, over 300 tons of food went to banks.
Main photo source: TVN24