FOOD PARCELS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED IN GENEVA – HOW YOU CAN HELP
by Chené Koscielny
You’ve seen the photographs of people queueing for hours for handouts of food parcels with basic supplies in Geneva. These images have made news headlines around the world highlighting poverty in what is estimated to be the wold’s second most expensive city.
Many of the people in desperate need of items we take for granted have been working in the cash economy as gardeners, nannies, cleaners and washing dishes in restaurants for years, but their work has stopped overnight due to the lockdown following the outbreak of the coronavirus.
As many of them aren’t legal, they have no recourse to state assistance.
QUEUEING FOR HOURS FOR FOOD
Last Friday, 8 May, nearly 1,700 parcels were distributed to people in need by 80 volunteers. More than 800 individuals from Geneva donated food parcels – by bicycle, car and even truck – during the day – to show their support for this charitable initiative.
The Geneva food bank – Partage – provided 8 tonnes of food products, including rice, pasta, oil, sugar, as well as sanitary products.
They also provided an additional 4 tonnes of fresh products such as potatoes, salad and vegetables collected from local businesses and producers.
The people most in need in Geneva during this period include the ‘invisible’ Latin American and Filipino communities, as well as people from Mongolia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Middle East and sub-saharan Africa.
“At the end of the month, my pockets are empty. We have to pay the bills, the insurance, everything,” said Ingrid Berala, a Geneva resident from Nicaragua who works part-time. “This is great, because there is food for a week, a week of relief…I don’t know for next week.”(From REUTERS)
HERE ARE SOME WAYS YOU CAN HELP
- Food and toiletries can be donated each Friday from 2pm to 8pm at the Vernets ice rink, 4 Rue Hans Wildorf, Acacias. The following food distributions are planned for Saturday, 16th of May, 23rd May and 30th May. You can bring your supplies to the ice rink on the preceding Friday. To see what goes into a typical food and supplies parcel – check out the list in the image alongside or below (if on phone).
- Donate money to help fund the food bank using these bank account details:
UBS: La Caravane de Solidarité-Genève
50, rue de Vermont 1202 Genève
Swift/BIC UBSWCHZH80A
IBAN CH42 0027 9279 3606 5101 U
- Volunteer your time – to find out more contact them on Facebook messenger – send a message.
THE CHARITIES INVOLVED
The distribution of handouts is organised by three main local charities including Caravane de Solidarite, Colis du Coeur and the local food bank Partage.
At the moment the handouts are planned to continue for another 3 weeks with a distribution planned for Saturday 16th of May, 23rd of May and 30th May. However, in light of the recession we’re facing, the need for basic assistance for the most vulnerable people in our communities is likely to continue.
