Gyeonggi-do Aims for 70 Billion KRW in Donations to Vulnerable Groups

Gyeonggi Provincial Government Gwanggyo New Office Building

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will increase the amount of donated goods provided to vulnerable groups and social welfare facilities to 70 billion KRW this year.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 12th that despite the global economic downturn, last year, thanks to the active interest and support of the province and city/counties for the Food Bank and Market projects, as well as the efforts of the Gyeonggi Metropolitan Food Bank and city/county Food Banks and Markets, it recorded the largest-ever donation goods provision performance of 68.4 billion KRW, and set the target amount at 70 billion KRW this year.

To this end, this year the Gyeonggi Metropolitan Food Bank will lead Korea’s donated food provision projects by ▲ establishing a data-based donated food provision project ▲ creating a foundation for safe goods provision (hiring one hygiene specialist, installing refrigeration and freezing specialized facilities) ▲ holding donation and sharing events linked to corporate (donor) social contribution activities ▲ selecting excellent companies supporting Food Banks and Markets.

In addition, to vitalize the operation of city/county Food Banks and Markets, which can be called the strong backbone of the donated food provision projects, the 'Excellent Food Bank and Market of the Year' project, newly promoted in the 8th local government term, will continue to be implemented.

Furthermore, to discover and resolve welfare blind spots, donated goods will be prioritized for emergency livelihood crisis households, and the role and function of Food Banks and Markets will be expanded to connect with public welfare services.

In particular, satisfaction surveys for Food Bank and Market users and preference surveys for donated goods will be regularized. Using the survey results (data), the actual status of provided services and user needs will be analyzed and identified, problems will be supplemented, and various goods desired by users, such as fresh food, will be provided to maximize service satisfaction.

Kim Neung-sik, Director of the Welfare Bureau of the province, said, "Food Banks and Markets have been a strong shield protecting vulnerable groups who have suffered from the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and rising prices," and emphasized, "We will continue to closely cooperate with cities/counties and the private sector so that the donated food provision project can grow into a representative 'opportunity safety net' project of Gyeonggi Province."

Meanwhile, last year, through 83 Food Banks and Markets (donated food provision sites) in the province, 52,053 individuals such as emergency livelihood crisis persons and basic livelihood security recipients, and 1,641 facilities including welfare centers, were provided with donated goods worth 68.4 billion KRW.

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