Increased demand for help at Mérida’s food bank
Mérida’s food bank says that it is under more pressure than ever to offer food security to struggling families and individuals.
The food bank is currently serving more than 28,000 members of the community every month and feeds an average of over 1,000 people every day.
“We work hard every day to do our part to feed Yucatán’s most vulnerable people,” said food bank president José Trinidad Molina Caseres.
The operation is part of a network of 55 food banks spread across the country. These foodbanks rely primarily on aid from grocery store chains but also accept donations from individuals.
Information, in Spanish, on how to donate food, financial support, or become a volunteer is available on the organization’s website.
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The organization also offers aid during natural disasters including hurricanes and mudslides.
Demand at food banks and other charities has seen a dramatic rise since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic across Mexico.
Toward the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, state, and municipal governments ran several programs to deliver basic foodstuffs to people in need, but the resources for such programs have long dried up.
Food insecurity has been an issue for Yucatán throughout its history. Although food availability is not the issue, severe deficiencies in the accessibility of food contribute to the insecurity.
At least 10% of the population in every Mexican state suffers from inadequate food access.
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer, adventure leader, and PhD candidate. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds multimedia, philosophy, and translation degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada and Norway.
