2023-11-19 13:30:54
◀ Anchor ▶
These days, with the prolonged economic downturn and rising prices, life is very difficult for ordinary people.
‘Food Bank’, which distributes groceries to low-income people who are at risk of going without food, is also experiencing difficulties due to a significant decrease in donations and support.
Reporter Jeong Jin-myeong covered the story.
◀ Report ▶
An agricultural product market in Busan.
A variety of vegetables, including potatoes, radishes, and onions, stored in a warehouse next to the public hearing center, are loaded into the car.
This is a donated item for low-income people.
Groceries brought by car are taken to the so-called “food market” in the area.
The food market is a donation-sharing place that distributes food and household goods to low-income people who are at risk of skipping meals.
Low-income people, such as recipients of basic livelihood security, can take the food and daily necessities they need for free here.
[구성근 / 사회복지사]
″You come once a month on that date (in the case of our food market), fill your score up to 5, and pick up the items you want‥″
However, the number of donated goods is decreasing significantly every year.
The number of items donated to the food market in 2021 was 37.9 million, but over the past year, the number of donated items has plummeted by 90% to 3.5 million.
This year too, there are only 1.9 million.
In particular, as donations of essential goods such as groceries decrease sharply, low-income people, such as senior citizens living alone, are already worried regarding surviving the coming winter.
[기초생활수급자(음성변조)]
″(Before COVID-19), there were detergents needed in the kitchen and food in the refrigerator (for sharing), and there was a variety of things. There is also soy sauce. There is none at all now. Here.”
This is because corporate sponsorship, which accounts for 90% of all donations, has decreased significantly.
[김병호 / 부산광역푸드뱅크 팀장]
″Donations have decreased significantly, and in order for the food bank to become active, local governments have shown a lot of interest.″
There are 75,938 low-income people using food markets in Busan.
As the cold winter approaches, warm interest and support seem to be needed.
This is Jeong Jin-myeong from MBC News.
Video coverage: Kim Wook-jin / Busan
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