The unseen side of cosmopolitan Corfu
food banks
25 Nov 2022
/ 12:03
CORFU. Hundreds of people in need seek help from social welfare and the Church.
With the energy crisis and price increases in basic products more and more people are turning to local authority welfare services and the Church to get a hot plate of food, food packages and basic necessities.
Along with its cosmopolitan side Corfu also has another unseen side. Hundreds of our fellow citizens who are unable to make ends meet turn to social welfare and the Church for help.
Although the numbers are not as high as during the pandemic, there is still a regular demand for help.
The managing director of the community organisation 'New Horizons' Thanassis Papavlassopoulos said that there are 340 people using the community shop and the food bank. The vast majority are over 60 years of age, followed by the poor, unemployed families with a large number of children as well as those in employment whose income doesn't cover their needs.
People returning
Although 10% of those using the food bank found work in the summer and didn't need to use the facility, once the tourist season ended approximately 5% returned to the food bank and the others registered as long-term unemployed.
"10% stopped using the food bank in the summer as they found work," said Mr. Papavlassopoulos. "5% returned to the food bank and the others have an improved income and no longer use the facility."
With the festive season approaching it is expected that numbers will increase. "The number of people needing help always increases by about 10% in the festive seasons," he said. "The food packages we distribute at Christmas and Easter are bigger in order to cover the increased needs."
Donations have decreased
Although the importance of the work being done by the community shop and food bank in town and in North and South Corfu through the collaboration of 'New Horizons' with the Municipality is well-recognized, the donations of food and other items for those in need have decreased.
According to Mr. Papavlassopoulos, 2,500-3,000 items are distributed every month but the energy crisis and rise in the cost of living have affected a lot of individuals and businesses who donated to the community shop. Thanks to these donations 200 families throughout the island receive two packages a month with food and other basic necessities.
"There has been a significant decrease in donations due to price increases in energy and food," said Mr. Papavlassopoulos. "The participation of the public in providing baskets of goods at the supermarket has dropped by about 20%. Some large hotels have helped but there are difficulties wth the collection of the food and it is done at our own expense."
The Church
The number of people coming for a hot plate of food at the three Church soup kitchens remains the same. About 130-140 people use the facilities and another 300 families are supported with food packages by the four community shops in Corfu Town, Sidari, Lefkimmi and Kanalia.
Along with its cosmopolitan side Corfu also has another unseen side. Hundreds of our fellow citizens who are unable to make ends meet turn to social welfare and the Church for help.
Although the numbers are not as high as during the pandemic, there is still a regular demand for help.
The managing director of the community organisation 'New Horizons' Thanassis Papavlassopoulos said that there are 340 people using the community shop and the food bank. The vast majority are over 60 years of age, followed by the poor, unemployed families with a large number of children as well as those in employment whose income doesn't cover their needs.
People returning
Although 10% of those using the food bank found work in the summer and didn't need to use the facility, once the tourist season ended approximately 5% returned to the food bank and the others registered as long-term unemployed.
"10% stopped using the food bank in the summer as they found work," said Mr. Papavlassopoulos. "5% returned to the food bank and the others have an improved income and no longer use the facility."
With the festive season approaching it is expected that numbers will increase. "The number of people needing help always increases by about 10% in the festive seasons," he said. "The food packages we distribute at Christmas and Easter are bigger in order to cover the increased needs."
Donations have decreased
Although the importance of the work being done by the community shop and food bank in town and in North and South Corfu through the collaboration of 'New Horizons' with the Municipality is well-recognized, the donations of food and other items for those in need have decreased.
According to Mr. Papavlassopoulos, 2,500-3,000 items are distributed every month but the energy crisis and rise in the cost of living have affected a lot of individuals and businesses who donated to the community shop. Thanks to these donations 200 families throughout the island receive two packages a month with food and other basic necessities.
"There has been a significant decrease in donations due to price increases in energy and food," said Mr. Papavlassopoulos. "The participation of the public in providing baskets of goods at the supermarket has dropped by about 20%. Some large hotels have helped but there are difficulties wth the collection of the food and it is done at our own expense."
The Church
The number of people coming for a hot plate of food at the three Church soup kitchens remains the same. About 130-140 people use the facilities and another 300 families are supported with food packages by the four community shops in Corfu Town, Sidari, Lefkimmi and Kanalia.
