Gyeonggi-do Selects Outstanding Food Banks and Markets for Additional Support Including Labor Costs and Equipment

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi-do supports labor costs and other expenses for excellent food banks.

Gyeonggi-do is promoting the "Excellent Food Bank & Market of the Year" project, which selects 1 to 2 outstanding businesses to provide additional support such as labor costs and equipment to revitalize food banks and food markets that distribute donated goods to vulnerable groups.

The province is accepting applications for participation in the "Excellent Food Bank & Market of the Year" from food banks and markets within the province from the 15th to the 29th of this month.

Food banks and markets are private operators that receive donations of food and daily necessities from companies or individuals and distribute them free of charge to neighbors in need and vulnerable social welfare facilities.

Since some institutions began to be independently established in 1998, there are currently 86 operating within the province.

Since 2013, the province has been promoting the "G-Food Dream" and operational equipment support projects, which provide labor costs (for one person) and equipment (such as refrigerated trucks) to businesses that have been operating for more than three years and have undergone certain evaluations.

However, among the total 86 locations, 64 are receiving "G-Food Dream" support as of this year, raising concerns about uniform subsidy support.

Accordingly, through the new project of the 8th administration, "Excellent Food Bank & Market of the Year," the province plans to select 1 to 2 businesses annually with outstanding performance in securing the amount of goods provided, number of users and donors, and policy project development, and provide additional support such as labor costs (for one person), refrigerated trucks, facility remodeling, and facility function enhancement and equipment according to business needs.

The support targets are the 64 food banks and markets participating in the "G-Food Dream" project within the province as of the announcement date (July 15).

Applications can be submitted to the respective city or county by the 29th. After evaluation by a review committee, the province will finalize the support recipients next month based on the evaluation of goods provision performance and the business's own project achievements.

Kim Nam-guk, Director of the Welfare Business Division of the province, said, "The 'Excellent Food Bank & Market of the Year' project of the 8th administration is part of Governor Kim Dong-yeon's emphasis on 'field-oriented administration.' We will continue to strengthen communication with the field to improve donation food provision projects and actively guarantee the basic right to food for vulnerable groups."

Meanwhile, as of last year, 85 food banks and markets in the province provided goods worth approximately 62.9 billion KRW to 52,108 vulnerable individuals and 1,857 organizations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.