Working together on enough food, financial resilience, and prevention of food waste
In the Netherlands, too many people live in poverty. As a result, they lack food security. This means they don’t have enough money every week to buy sufficient food. The foodbank helps by providing these people with enough food every week. A large part of these products come from food streams that would otherwise be thrown away. This way, the foodbank helps people with enough food, and less food is wasted.
Help with an eye to the future
The foodbank doesn’t just provide food packages. To help their clients get back on their feet, they work together with other organizations and municipalities. The foodbank strives to ensure that food aid is temporary. They called this: ‘A package with a pathway’. The aim is to be as accessible as possible. This approach works: 31% of people receiving support from the foodbank are not longer dependent on food packages within six months. They are able to buy enough food again.
Rabobank as partner
At Rabobank, we believe everyone has the right to a financially healthy life and food security. This means: control over your money and access to sufficient, healthy food. Sometimes there are weeks when you have less money. At those times, it helps to have someone think along with you confidentially. The foodbank plays an important role in this.
Rabobank supports Voedselbanken Nederland because:
We encourage colleagues and members to become volunteers at local foodbanks.
Three ways we help
Rabobank will be partnering with Voedselbanken Nederland for the coming years. Our contribution supports the national organization behind 181 local foodbanks and 10 distribution centers. This ensures safe, efficient, and reliable food aid. The contribution goes to logistics and distribution, food safety, volunteer coordination, support for local foodbanks, and national projects. This enables Voedselbanken Nederland to continue providing healthy food to more than 150,000 people each year. This number is still growing.
Rabobank also supports two projects by Voedselbanken Nederland:
Supermarkets are wasting less and less food. That is good, but as a result, foodbanks also receive fewer products. Therefore, Voedselbanken Nederland is working with No Waste Army and de Verspillingsfabriek on the Social Food project. Throughout the entire food chain, there are surplus streams, such as excess produce at farms or factories. Social Food processes these surplus streams into healthy products, such as soups and sauces. These products go to the 181 local foodbanks. This reduces waste and ensures a regular supply of food to foodbanks. Rabobank uses its network to connect parties in the food chain with Social Food.
Many people are entitled to food aid but cannot find their way to the foodbank. Sometimes because they feel ashamed. Sometimes because they don’t know where to get help. Under the Radar helps reach these people earlier and more effectively. They do this through campaigns, training, and a new digital system for registration and referral to support. Following a pilot phase, Under the Radar will be expanded into a full program with Rabobank’s contribution. This program strengthens collaboration with partners such as Geldfit, Humanitas, and SchuldHulpMaatje. Early intervention works: nearly half of the people are independent again within one year. 31% even within six months.
Working together toward a better future
With this support, Rabobank contributes to:
Read more about Voedselbanken Nederland and how you can help.