The project was carried out under the co-operation between Vietnam Council of the Red Cross (VCRC), the Youth Social Welfare Centre and several food companies.
Volunteers of Foodbank Vietnam offer 100 bowls of soup for the homeless in HCM City on January 20
According to statistics by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, hunger is still one of the most urgent development challenges although the world is producing more than enough food.
One-third of food produced for human consumption, amounting to around 1.3 billion tonnes, is lost or wasted every year, causing a loss of around USD940 billion. However, up to 800 million people around the world still face hunger so the foodbank model is common worldwide.
Nguyen Tuan Khoi, vice chairman of VCRC, cited a survey on 4,000 households in eight Asian countries by Electrolux as saying that Vietnam ranked second in the food waste index in the Asia-Pacific region, just behind China.
Foodbank Vietnam would call on the public for the supply of redundant food
“Through Foodbank Vietnam, we want to help distribute food for the needy, including the homeless, orphans, the disabled and poor people in remote and disadvantaged areas. We will also support other voluntary groups in providing food for hospitals and social centres,” Khoi added.
He noted that Foodbank Vietnam would call on the public, including restaurants, food producers and distributors as well as households for the supply of redundant food. The project volunteers will also sign them up to a commitment to save and provide food to help the needy people.
Foodbank Vietnam’s volunteers provide meals for disadvantaged children at Thi Nghe Orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City on January 20
In the long term, the project plans to establish a network of stores to serve the purchase of farm produces from farmers to diversify the food supplies for the poor.
On the first day of the operation on January 20, Foodbank Vietnam’s volunteers provided meals for disadvantage children and staff at the Thi Nghe Orphanage and other 100 bowls of soup for the homeless in HCM City.
