Every cloud has a silver lining
The Malta Food Bank Foundation (MFBF) has seen requests for help increase manifold. Requests for additional help came from NGOs, who lost many sources of funding, and also from single families who found themselves in shortage due to a reduced income.
Although islands may have been spared the brunt of the pandemic, the effects on the economy, in particular of small islands, have been devastating. The tourist industry has stalled and with it jobs were lost. The Malta Food Bank Foundation (MFBF) has seen requests for help increase manifold. Requests for additional help came from NGOs, who lost many sources of funding, and also from single families who found themselves in shortage due to a reduced income. Despite the hardship, new initiative sprouted too. Hotels and importers are donating surplus food to MFBF to the extent that, over the last month alone, the MFBF saw a twofold increase in the donation off food. One particular initiative that deserves a commendable mention is that of a chef whose restaurant had to close down due to the lockdown. He is collecting excess ingredients from various donors and prepares meals for the needy at his restaurant. The MFBF is collaborating fully on this initiative and donates some of the excess vegetables it rescues from the vegetable market to this chef for the preparation of nutritious fresh meals. The fresh meals are then given to MFBF and these are distributed to people in need.
