Food to the value of NOK 55 million has so far this year arrived at the food center in Trøndelag.
That is a 30 percent increase in one year. Now the capacity in several areas is at breaking point.
– We have blown up capacity in the warehouse, and at the same time we do not have enough food to cover the need that the organizations report to us, general manager Marte Lønvik Bjørnsund tells TV 2.
Must build out
Earlier this autumn, the government increased the allocations to the food centers in Norway, so that they will receive a total of NOK seven million in 2022. In Trondheim, they hope to use some of these funds to expand the warehouse, so that they can increase capacity next year.
TRAVELT: On this day, space had to be cleared for 11 pallets of goods from Tine. Photo: Frank Lervik / TV 2
– The food industry has become much smarter and more aware of sharing the surplus food they have with us. That’s why we want to expand our premises to avoid saying no to everything we are offered, explains Bjørnsund.
– Hard to say no
Much of the responsibility for feeding the poor in Norway falls on voluntary organisations. One of them is Worthy Smiles. There, they have now put a stop to new registrations of people who need food.
– It is both about access to food, transport of food and the capacity of the volunteers. It hurts to have to say no to people who clearly need help, says the initiator of Verdige Smil, Margaret Moiba.
FULL SPEED: Over 20 volunteers are involved when Margaret Moiba and the organization Verdige Smil distribute food to the needy in Trondheim. Photo: Frank Lervik/TV2
– Gets too little support
Three days before Christmas Eve, Moiba and the other volunteers pack over four tonnes of food into over 300 bags to be distributed to those in need. Moiba believes that voluntary organizations should receive more support from the public than they currently receive.
– Our elected representatives could have done much more to help people who are struggling. That they don’t do more is horrible. The fact that we have to carry this on our shoulders does something to us volunteers both physically and mentally. We are the ones who meet these people every day, and it is not easy, says Moiba.
POSEHAV: Over four tonnes of food are packed in bags in just over an hour. Photo: Frank Lervik / TV 2
Getting help
Most of the volunteers who pack food in the bags on this day need help themselves. Freddy Sanchez from Venezuela is an asylum seeker and has little to complain about.
– I bring a bag of food with me when I finish work. But what is equally important is that as a volunteer here I come into contact with many wonderful people. Then I can relax my head and not think about all the negative things. It feels very good to be here and relax a bit, says Sanchez.
Poverty wave
Matsentralen Norge states that the situation is demanding for all the country’s food centres. The need for food aid has exploded and several centers must expand their capacity in 2023.
VOLUNTEER: Freddy Sanchez helps with the packing job and gets a bag of food home himself. Photo: Frank Lervik / TV 2
– There is a wave of poverty in the country and we are constantly setting new records. Last week we sold 300,000 meals, and the number only increases every week, says Per Christian Rålm, general manager of Matsentralen Norge.
Dependent on donations
The centers in Oslo, Trondheim, Tromsø and in Western Norway all need to expand their capacity next year, according to the food central manager.
– We are, after all, a joint venture where the food industry, several foundations and the public sector contribute funds. We hope that we will receive large enough donations that can make us better off. It will provide greater security and predictability to increase capacity and expand our warehouses going forward, says Rålm.
FOOD QUEUES: The number of people who need help with food on the table is constantly increasing. This is experienced by both the food centers and the voluntary organisations. Photo: Frank Lervik / TV 2
