The campaign has a long tradition, meets with a lively response every year and has already raised over 28 million euros worth of food since its launch in 2011: Since 7 October, customers in over 4,200 REWE and Nahkauf stores have once again been able to buy either paper bags with donated items or donation cards for people affected by poverty.
The food banks in Germany have an acute problem: in many cases, they lack the food donations to support all their customers. This is why the nationwide food bank bag campaign organised by REWE and nahkauf is so important. It has been taking place from 7 to 20 October. The aim of the "Filling plates together" initiative is to work with REWE customers to collect as many food donations as possible. These benefit the more than 970 food banks in Germany.
The donation campaign focuses on long-life food that the food banks rarely receive. This time it's apple sauce, peas, oatmeal, peeled tomatoes, mushrooms and pasta. REWE always decides together with the umbrella organisation Tafel Deutschland which foods are most urgently needed.
During the campaign period, customers willing to donate have two options in the stores: They can either pick up a paper bag containing the donated items. After paying, this must be deposited at a designated collection point. Or they can buy a donation card, which is placed in a donation box at the checkout. Bag or donation card - both have a value of 5.00 euros and the same food is donated to the food banks. At the end of the campaign weeks, the donations automatically recorded by the checkout system are converted into the corresponding quantities of food and handed over to the local food banks. Donations can also be made via the REWE delivery service or the REWE online shop. REWE itself also donates goods totalling 200,000 euros to the food banks.
Cooperation with food banks since 1996
REWE has been cooperating with food banks since 1996 and regularly donates food that is still good but can no longer be sold. Since 2011, REWE has also been organising the bag campaign in cooperation with Tafel Deutschland. The food banks pass on the rescued and donated food to people living in poverty. This now amounts to 1.6 to 2 million people a year. Thanks to the great commitment of customers and many other supporters, the food bag campaign has already donated food worth over 28 million euros, which has helped more than 4.3 million people living in poverty over the years. Further information can be found at www.rewe.de/tafel.
