More and more people are turning to the food bank for help. Figures from Food Banks Netherlands show that more than 155,000 people received help in 2025. A year earlier there were still 144,000. They also see a significant increase at Food Bank Oss and Omstreek.
While 265 families used the food bank in Oss last year, there are now 340. There are several reasons for this, says Hans Mensink, chairman of Food Bank Oss en Omstreek. “Thanks to the ‘Under the Radar’ project, in which we actively look for people who need help, we are increasingly able to find people and they find us,” he says. “That’s very nice. In addition, care providers often point people to the Food Bank.”
According to Mensink, the group of people who turn for help is also changing. “At first it was people with a small pension, but now you also see people who work and just can’t get it done. We call the Netherlands a prosperous country, where no one is on the sidelines. But there are still quite a few people on the sidelines. We are there for them.”
The Food Bank can handle the growth well so far, Mensink assures. “We even have a waiting list for volunteers. And we are lucky that Oss is a food city with a very high favorability factor. Companies, private individuals, churches, they all support us.”
Extended opening hours
Mensink thinks that the number of people who need help will only continue to grow in the coming years. “When you see how sharply energy and gasoline prices are rising… Groceries are also extremely expensive.”
The Food Bank is already preparing for further growth. “We have a very nice store, but it is not very big. That is why we are expanding our opening hours and from now on we are also open on Wednesday evenings. Customers have the same choice in the afternoon as in the evening, we will ensure that. We do not leave anyone out in the cold!”