Six domestic food banks launched an alliance in Taipei yesterday to share resources and logistics more effectively and to push for legislation that encourages donations.
The resulting Cozy Food Bank Alliance in Taiwan is aimed at “saying ‘No’ to wasting resources,” it said in a statement.
Members are the Taiwan People’s Food Bank Association, the 1919 Food Bank, the Andrew Food Bank, the Chinese Youth Peace Corps Food Bank, the Southern Airport’s Chen Chi Hsiang Food Bank and the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China’s (Greater) Taichung branch, which operates a food bank in the central municipality.
“We hope to send supplies to people in need in the fastest and most efficient way,” Taiwan People’s Food Bank Association president and first secretary-general of the alliance Lawrence Liu (劉紹樑) said in a press conference.
Members are to share resources, information and logistics, as well as cooperate in disaster relief, community development and care services, Liu said.
They also intend to push for legislation that creates tax breaks for individuals and companies that donate to food banks, that allows food banks or the public to purchase farmers’ excess production at discounted prices when bought for donation and that better ensures the safety of the food being distributed, Liu said.
He said the nation wastes 2.75 million tonnes of food each year, enough to feed 260,000 low-income households for 20 years.
A food bank distributes food to those who cannot feed themselves and their families. The first was established in the US in 1967.
The Taiwan People’s Food Bank Association became the 24th member of the US-based Global FoodBanking Network in 2012.
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