While many are preparing for a Christmas of pork chops and ribs, volunteers from the Red Cross are packing boxes upon boxes of milk, coffee, gingerbread and toilet paper. It will be distributed to those who may not be looking forward to Christmas as much. And there have been more of them this year. – What we notice this year is that there are just about all types of people, from all walks of life. It’s just ordinary people like you and me, says Mari-Ann Helliksen from the Red Cross. Several aid organizations that news has spoken to tell of a strong pressure from people who need help before Christmas and that the food queues have only gotten longer. Many also visit the aid organizations to get gifts for their children. Here from the Christmas tree to the Church’s City Mission. Photo: Rosa Irén Villalobos At the local Red Cross office in Skien, there have been over 400 families in need of help. – I think it is very sad that there are so many people who need help with food and many are worried about whether they have enough food themselves, because the children must have food, says Helliksen. An anonymous father from Skien has received Christmas help from the Red Cross. Both mother and father are at work, but the salary has not reached Christmas food. – We had to reduce the food budget to NOK 1,500 a week for seven people. Many cope when one thing rises, but when everything rises in price it becomes difficult, he says. The Church’s City Mission distributes food bags before Christmas. Photo: Per Willy Larsen / news The father of children says he has become good at finding free offers, but believes that not being able to afford activities goes beyond the social. – You lose the social aspect when you cannot afford to do things that others do, for example go to the cinema. But it is of course food that is most important. – An acute poverty crisis Mental Health, the Salvation Army and the Poor House also tell of great pressure. The almshouse now says that people who are in full-time work also show up in the queues, because they can’t get it to go around anymore. It is also shown in figures from NAV. A report from December states that more young people under 30, families with children and single people are now applying for financial help. Some municipalities also experience that there are more people with social security, wages and income, who should initially be self-reliant, the report states. It is the high cost of living that has led them to seek help from NAV. The Salvation Army is well underway in handing out food boxes to those who come by. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news – This is an acute poverty crisis that we have not seen for many years. People simply don’t have food, says Mímir Kristjánsson, who is a parliamentary representative from Rødt. – Voluntary aid organizations do a fantastic job, but the organizations should not have to replace the welfare state. Then it shows that things are not working as they should, says Kristjánsson. Urges to seek help from NAV A survey carried out by Ipsos for the Salvation Army shows that 1 in 5 are struggling with the increased expenses that have come this autumn. The Salvation Army is well underway in handing out food boxes to those who come by. – Now we have had a very tough time this autumn, so there are people who have normally managed for themselves who have tipped over the edge and now need help, says Kristin Stordal from the Salvation Army. Tomas Norvoll, State Secretary from the Ministry of Employment and Inclusion encourages those who need help to contact NAV. Aid organizations are experiencing greater pressure this year than in the past. People who visit the Salvation Army can choose between meat and fish for Christmas. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news – The welfare state is there for those who are having a hard time. Should it turn out over the winter that things will become even more difficult, we are of course ready to act quickly to deal with it. – Isn’t it a sign that things aren’t going so well when people who are fully employed stand in a food queue outside the Fattighuset? – We know that there are many who are having a tough time, so it is important that those who need help contact NAV, says Tomas Norvoll. – It is heartbreaking to hear about. Here there are parents who don’t know if they have enough food for their children, it can’t be like that in Norway, says Mímir Kristjánsson from Rødt.
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– An acute poverty crisis – news Culture and entertainment
