REWE, nahkauf and customers are supporting the food banks in Germany with around 487,000 donation bags. Over the next few days, the distribution centres will receive long-life food worth 2.64 million euros. From 10 to 22 October, more than 3,700 REWE and 450 nahkauf stores as well as the REWE online shop called on customers to buy a donation bag for their local food bank.
The motto of the campaign weeks was "Filling plates together. We help locally!" This supports people affected by poverty - especially refugees, the unemployed, senior citizens, single parents and young people with a low household budget.
"It is depressing that more and more people in this country lack the money for a healthy and balanced diet. The food banks take on a particularly important social and societal responsibility in supporting people affected by poverty. They must not be left alone in this endeavour. For me, the once again high level of donations is impressive proof that social cohesion in Germany continues to be lived and that the solidarity of our customers with the Tafel guests is unbroken," says REWE Group Divisional Director Peter Maly.
"More and more people are currently asking for support from the food banks because they can no longer afford basic foodstuffs. In many places, food donations are declining and the volunteers are reaching their limits. The donated food from the REWE bag campaign directly helps people affected by poverty. We would like to thank the customers of REWE and nahkauf as well as the company itself for their solidarity in these difficult times," says Jochen Brühl, Chairman of Tafel Deutschland e. V.
The 2.35-kilogram donation bag contained six food items agreed with Tafel Deutschland: rice, pasta, cream of tomato soup, pretzel sticks, muesli bars and biscuits. Customers could buy these for 5 euros and place them in a campaign box in the market of the local co-operating food bank.
In the next step, volunteer Tafel employees will collect the food and distribute it to the Tafel guests at the distribution points over the coming weeks. REWE itself donated another 200,000 euros to the food banks - following 500,000 euros in emergency aid to support the Ukraine refugees in April 2022.
REWE and the food banks
REWE and the food banks have been working very closely together since 1996. The stores and warehouses deliver food to the local distribution centres every day. These are mainly fresh products that are no longer sold but can still be consumed without hesitation. In addition, there are financial donations as well as the organisation and implementation of campaigns involving customers.
