According to the Bavarian Minister of Social Affairs Ulrike Scharf (CSU), Bavaria will support the Tafel with one million euros in 2023. “It is important that food remains affordable despite inflation,” she said, according to a statement from her ministry on Sunday at the general meeting of the Landesverband Tafel Bayern eV , which met in Erding. She is aware that the Tafel are struggling with major challenges: inflation, an increasing number of customers and at the same time fewer and fewer donations. “What the Tafel volunteers are doing is incredible. They deserve our highest recognition,” she said.
In Bavaria, around 11,300 helpers are involved in the food banks. The number of panels has steadily increased in recent years. As a result of the corona pandemic and most recently the Ukraine war, the number of Tafel customers has skyrocketed – in some cases tripled. For this reason, according to the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labor and Social Affairs, the Free State is increasing its funding to a total of almost one million euros.
The draft budget for 2023 includes an increase in the previous funding for the Bavarian food bank association to EUR 600,000. In addition – subject to the approval of the Bavarian state parliament – a further 400,000 euros will soon be available from the Bavarian hardship fund to support the food banks and similar facilities. Exactly 30 years ago, the first food bank was founded in Germany. Today there are 174 panels in the Free State alone.