Food banks Southeast Drenthe and Hart van Drenthe can save a lot of euros by jointly purchasing a refrigerated truck. The money saved can be used to buy more food.
The purchase of the truck cost more than 100,000 euros, the lion’s share of which was paid for through a subsidy. “There was a substantial subsidy available from the national association,” says Ton Sleeking, chairman of the Zuidoost-Drenthe Food Bank. “If we had done it alone, we would have received a 60 to 70 percent subsidy. With a collaboration, 90 percent subsidy was available. So we sat down with Hart van Drenthe.”
The new bus offers the food banks more transport options. It replaces three outdated vans that together could transport 900 kilos, the new car can transport 3,500 kilos. Three days a week the car drives in the municipality of Emmen, the rest of the week in the catchment area of Hart van Drenthe (Assen, Central Drenthe, Tynaarlo and Aa en Hunze).
By being able to take more with you and therefore making fewer trips, you save on fuel costs. The money saved is needed for other things, says Sleeking. “We desperately need the money to buy products for our customers. We see that what we receive from various supermarkets is rapidly decreasing. We also receive less from large national parties, the number of customers is actually increasing.”
According to Sleeking, supermarkets themselves are busy combating food waste, leaving less for the food bank. This is done, among other things, with discounts. “At many supermarkets you see that when products are up to date, they are offered to their own customers.”
And so the savings on transport costs, for example, are badly needed. Another advantage of the larger car is that roll containers can be driven in. “That means that many volunteers have to carry a lot less crates.”