It was Saturday, November 23, the last day of collections for the Food Bank in Reunion. Between inflation and difficult ends of the month, volunteers have more difficulty collecting donations.
With their orange vests, the sixteen volunteers from the Food Bank who take turns this Saturday, November 23 in front of this shopping center in Sainte-Suzanne do not go unnoticed. But when it comes time to give their small list of essential products to customers who come to do their shopping, some are quick to look elsewhere.
Not Joëlle, who takes the little booklet. “I generally give to all the food banks, because I was in need when I was young and they helped me. You can have been rich and become poor overnight”underlines this generous donor.
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©Nina Santi
For this final national day of collecting donations for the Food Bank, it is not easy, however, to fill the shopping carts for families in need with basic products that are not very expensive: pasta, milk, canned goods…
“There is always generosity. But people are a little more reluctant” observes Richelaine, a volunteer. “It’s the 23rd, it’s the end of the month, there may not be too much money coming in. People may be waiting for their salary, everyone is in need”she understands.
Since the Covid pandemic, however, volunteers have noticed a drop in donations at store entrances. Inflation, unemployment, worries about ending the month… there is no shortage of reasons.
But Jérôme finds that Reunion solidarity is sometimes lost. “I find it regrettable that some people prefer to buy a bottle of alcohol instead of giving a can of sardines for 70 cents… everyone has their own priorities” he regrets, bitterly.
The donations collected by the volunteers will be brought back and sorted at the Port food bank then distributed to several partner associations. The Réunion food bank nevertheless hopes to harvest 50 tonnes of food this year.
