Description
The project's objective is to develop and implement a model for efficient management of surplus food products donated by entrepreneurs, in particular by retail networks and farmers. These are new sources of food products in Poland. 30 Food Banks and approx. 2000 organizations will have to be prepared to receive, process and distribute the food products in innovative ways, through activation of local communities, promotion of volunteer services and social entrepreneurship. We estimate that as a result of systemic activities under our project the Food Banks will receive at least 3 000 tons of additional food products a year from the new sources. Thus, about 50 000 people will be able to receive additional food assistance. The banks and organizations will reassess and standardize their methods of operation. The permanent result of our project will be greater confidence on the part of donors and greater social engagement on the part of volunteers, business partners and farmers.
Summary of project results
"In 2013, in Poland legal regulations concerning donating food to public benefit organisations were amended. Before, for many years unsold food of good quality had been reprocessed instead of being used for social purposes, because it was economically more rational for companies in view of the then existing tax regulations. Today, it is possible to donate food to non-governmental organisations without any additional tax burdens. The aim of the project was to develop and implement a model for effective distribution by organisations of the food coming from donations from businesses, and in particular from the retail networks and farmers. 2164 local organisations cooperating with 32 Food Banks were prepared to distribute food coming from the new sources through strengthening competencies of their teams and developing Internet tools. The activities contributed to an increase in the amounts of food distributed among persons in need from 47 thousand tonnes in 2014 to 140 thousand tonnes in 2015. The diagnosis of the potential of partner organisation networks was conducted (a survey among approx. one thousand of non-governmental organisations), and three expert opinions were prepared that showed the trends in the future cooperation with producers, farmers and distributors of food and their donations for social purposes. The methods of work of the partner organisation networks were arranged and written in the form of four standards for: soliciting food, its distribution among persons in need, cooperation with volunteers, cooperation with farmers. In addition, Internet tools were developed: warehouse software (2164 users), the web page
www.bankizywnosci.pl, volunteer application (509), e-learning platform (1144) that facilitate applying the developed standards. The project benefited directly 2196 non-governmental organisations (including 32 Food Banks) that are active in gathering and distributing food among persons in need. The partner of the project was the Polish Federation of Food Producers that consulted project activities."
Summary of bilateral results