Food banks in Germany have seen an increase of around 2,000 volunteers to 77,000. However, one third of the food banks are still urgently seeking additional helpers. The chairman of Tafel Deutschland emphasizes that tasks have grown and a natural limit has been reached.
The number of volunteer helpers at food banks in Germany has risen by about 2,000 to around 77,000 this year, as Andreas Steppuhn, chairman of Tafel Deutschland, told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung". Despite this positive trend, one third of the food banks still urgently need more supporters. "Tasks have increased, for example in logistics," Steppuhn explained. Some food banks have extended their opening hours to lift admission stops, but this is not possible everywhere.
The organization currently serves around 1.5 million people regularly. About 25 percent of the food banks operate waiting lists or temporary admission stops, marking a slight improvement from 2024, when every third food bank did not accept new clients. "We have reached a natural limit – much more than today is not possible at the food banks," Steppuhn stated. Additionally, the amount of salvageable food from supermarkets and discounters is decreasing due to digitalization and more sustainable business practices. These developments highlight the ongoing strain on food banks despite the commitment of many volunteers.